I've played some bizarre gigs in my day, but Saturday's show that I played with In The Pocket on the beach in New Jersey may be one of the weirdest. Allow me to explain.
We were having power issues all day. Our power sources weren't strong enough to support all our equipment, and as a result our PA would occasionally cut in and out when we pushed it too hard. Our guitar player, Jared, was also having issues with his amp, presumably for the same reason. Now picture this scene:
It's about 8:45PM on a day that saw 3 of us drive from NY to NJ, we all had spent time in the sun and the water, and we're moving toward the end of our 3rd set. We're set up on the beach, playing for a bunch of vacationers who had been drinking all afternoon and evening, and some of us had been drinking a little as well. And that's when Jared's guitar decided it wasn't going to work properly without more power...that we didn't have.
So what does Jared do? He puts down his guitar, picks up his microphone, and starts singing his parts. Yes, he started to sing his parts. His guitar parts. Through "Wild Nights," "Summer of '69," "You Can Call Me Al," and "Tiny Dancer," Jared did his best to make his mouth sound like a guitar, and it was hilarious. And priceless. There were a number of times when I lost it and could do nothing but laugh into the mic, and thankfully the crowd was having as much fun as we were. Eventually we got to a point where we just couldn't go any further, so we had called it a night. But it is with almost 100% percent certainty that there will never be another ITP show like that again. One-of-a-kind. Out of control.
Earlier in the day we were having a discussion about who was the funniest member of the band. I think Jared made a pretty damn good argument.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Fenway
In an unusual turn of events, I've seen games at 3 different MLB stadiums this season: Citi Field, Camden Yards, and now Fenway Park. The first time I visited Fenway was in 2006 when I saw Dave Matthew Band for the first time (with opening act Sheryl Crow). I got a chance to see the park, touch the green monster, hear the ubiquitous Boston chants of "Yankees Suck," and experience "Sweet Caroline." On Sunday I actually got to see a game, and a Yankees vs. Red Sox game, at that.
I have to assume that every game at Fenway isn't as intense as Sunday's game, but I sure wish it was. Sunday's game was old school, helped in no small way by the old school venue. The fans were intense, and oddly enough I only saw one argument involving security. When they showed a replay of a terribly blown call by the first base umpire, the Boston fans seriously showed their displeasure. Those "boos" may be the loudest thing I heard all day. I also had one of the best Sam Adams Summer Ales I've ever had. I mean it should be damn good considering I'm drinking a draft Boston beer in Boston...and it cost $8.50. But at only a $.25 difference between Bud Light and Sam Summer, how can you not? In the end, though, as great a ballpark as Fenway is, it didn't feel like home.
After the game we made our way to the North End, stopped at the Old North Church, had a great dinner at Al Dente, and got a dynamite chocolate chip cannoli at Mike's Pastries. Luckily I'm going to be back in Boston in just two months, this time for a wedding. I love traveling and being places I've never been before.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
MD, DE, MD
Baltimore, MD
I have a friend who lives in Baltimore, so on my way to Delaware I decided to stop and spend some time. First stop, the Inner Harbor. Walked around, enjoyed the sun (but not the heat and humidity), didn't rent a dragon paddle-boat, and had dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Why Cheesecake Factory? Because when you are trying to make it to the Orioles game you just go with it.
Camden Yards was great. It was warm, it was welcoming, it was everything that a great ballpark should be. If you've never been there for a game, I highly recommend it. And its always interesting to visit another ballpark. Citi Field is surrounded by chop shops. But Camden Yards is in an area of Baltimore where people are just around, I imagine even on off nights. A great neighborhood field (and I kept the above can).
After the game, we walked to a place called Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar. And it was awesome. Awesome! I had a blast, and I wish that there was a location much closer to me so I could go on a more frequently. Basically how it works is there are two pianos, drums, keyboards, guitars, and a bass, and about 5 or 6 musicians. If you want to hear a song, you write it down and put it on one of the pianos with a tip. Then they play it. And they can play pretty much anything. I requested "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. No problem. You can also join them onstage with a fee, so my friend sent me up there. I got onstage and was informed that I would be performing "New York State of Mind." Of course! Haha. I had had a few drinks, but I did OK, and everyone in the bar dug it.
Rehoboth Beach, DE
The main reason for the trip was to attend the wedding of a college friend of mine in Rehoboth Beach. On my way there I stopped at the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, took the tour, and had some samples. What was the coolest part of the tour? Honestly it was when the tour guide told us that every two weeks they get a case of beer as part of their pay. Um, where are the applications, please?
Rehoboth itself was good, but hot. We checked out the boardwalk, went to Funland, played mini-golf on a roof, and got frozen custard. I'm not a huge beach guy, but I enjoyed myself. And the wedding was a lot of fun. Great food (a mashed potato bar), very tasty pinot grigio, and a shuttle to and from the reception. Sold.
Annapolis/Laurel, MD
Sunday I drove to Laurel, MD, to spend some time with another friend. But what do you do in Laurel? Well, you go to Annapolis! I had been there before, but my friend had not. It was a gorgeous day, and the Washington/Annapolis area is one of my favorite areas in the country, so I had a good time. We walked around the harbor for a while and ate at the Acme Bar & Grill (dynamite wings and onion rings). One of the guys working there said that it extremely busy due tot he power outages from the massive storm that came through Friday night, and the fact that they only had one server working didn't speed things up any. But you know what? "Think globally, drink locally."
When we drove back to Laurel, we checked out some of the damage from the storm (technically called a "derecho"). The picture below is just one section of damage, but says so much.
Camden Yards was great. It was warm, it was welcoming, it was everything that a great ballpark should be. If you've never been there for a game, I highly recommend it. And its always interesting to visit another ballpark. Citi Field is surrounded by chop shops. But Camden Yards is in an area of Baltimore where people are just around, I imagine even on off nights. A great neighborhood field (and I kept the above can).
After the game, we walked to a place called Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar. And it was awesome. Awesome! I had a blast, and I wish that there was a location much closer to me so I could go on a more frequently. Basically how it works is there are two pianos, drums, keyboards, guitars, and a bass, and about 5 or 6 musicians. If you want to hear a song, you write it down and put it on one of the pianos with a tip. Then they play it. And they can play pretty much anything. I requested "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. No problem. You can also join them onstage with a fee, so my friend sent me up there. I got onstage and was informed that I would be performing "New York State of Mind." Of course! Haha. I had had a few drinks, but I did OK, and everyone in the bar dug it.
Rehoboth Beach, DE
The main reason for the trip was to attend the wedding of a college friend of mine in Rehoboth Beach. On my way there I stopped at the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, took the tour, and had some samples. What was the coolest part of the tour? Honestly it was when the tour guide told us that every two weeks they get a case of beer as part of their pay. Um, where are the applications, please?
Rehoboth itself was good, but hot. We checked out the boardwalk, went to Funland, played mini-golf on a roof, and got frozen custard. I'm not a huge beach guy, but I enjoyed myself. And the wedding was a lot of fun. Great food (a mashed potato bar), very tasty pinot grigio, and a shuttle to and from the reception. Sold.
Annapolis/Laurel, MD
Sunday I drove to Laurel, MD, to spend some time with another friend. But what do you do in Laurel? Well, you go to Annapolis! I had been there before, but my friend had not. It was a gorgeous day, and the Washington/Annapolis area is one of my favorite areas in the country, so I had a good time. We walked around the harbor for a while and ate at the Acme Bar & Grill (dynamite wings and onion rings). One of the guys working there said that it extremely busy due tot he power outages from the massive storm that came through Friday night, and the fact that they only had one server working didn't speed things up any. But you know what? "Think globally, drink locally."
When we drove back to Laurel, we checked out some of the damage from the storm (technically called a "derecho"). The picture below is just one section of damage, but says so much.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Newsroom
I've been a fan of Aaron Sorkin's work since Sports Night. That's 1998 for those of you keeping track. It started with Sport Night, became forever solidified with The West Wing, and continued through Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (a show widely regarded as lackluster, but at least somewhat better than that). And let us not forget A Few Good Men, The American President, and other movies he wrote the screenplays for like Charlie Wilson's War, Moneyball, and The Social Network (for which he won the Academy Award). So, when I heard of his new show, The Newswoom, I was ready for Sorkin to be back on TV. But this isn't TV. Its HBO.
I watched the series premiere Sunday night despite being exhausted from Saturday night, and when you've watched enough Sorkin you start to notice patterns. The Newsroom, like other Sorkin shows, gets things rolling early with a character ranting something in public that he shouldn't which puts his job in jeopardy or gets him fired (i.e. Dan Rydell in Sports Night, Josh Lyman in The West Wing, Wes Mendell in Studio 60); former flames being brought together to work with each other (Josh & Mandy in The West Wing, Matt & Harriet in Studio 60); the workplace romance (Natalie & Jeremy in Sports Night, Sam & Mallory in The West Wing, and Danny & Jordan in Studio 60). Some of these ideas have a tendency to recur, but they always go in different directions.
Like other Aaron Sorkin shows, The Newsroom idealizes and romanticizes the new business. So much so that after watching it I thought, "Damn, why aren't I doing that with my life? It looks awesome!" Idealizing and romanticizing is what Sorkin does best. But the thing that I believe makes this show unique is that the series begins in 2010 and is going to cover real news stories that have occurred between then and now. I read an article a few days ago that scoffed at this, pointing out that it's unbelievable to portray the characters in this newsroom as the only ones in the business who get things right, foresee unforeseeable consequences, and are righteous. I say get over yourself, this is fiction. This is news idealized and romanticized. If you want reality, watch a damn documentary.
As I write this, I'm scanning through other reviews online and they're mixed. Words like "self-righteous," "passionate," and "grandiloquent." Are they right? I don't know. According to them the upcoming episodes of the show are just terrible and full of banality, and that the show does a disservice to actual reporters who worked on these stories in real life. Unfortunately, I can't speak to that, but I for sure enjoyed the first one. We'll see how next week turns out.
I watched the series premiere Sunday night despite being exhausted from Saturday night, and when you've watched enough Sorkin you start to notice patterns. The Newsroom, like other Sorkin shows, gets things rolling early with a character ranting something in public that he shouldn't which puts his job in jeopardy or gets him fired (i.e. Dan Rydell in Sports Night, Josh Lyman in The West Wing, Wes Mendell in Studio 60); former flames being brought together to work with each other (Josh & Mandy in The West Wing, Matt & Harriet in Studio 60); the workplace romance (Natalie & Jeremy in Sports Night, Sam & Mallory in The West Wing, and Danny & Jordan in Studio 60). Some of these ideas have a tendency to recur, but they always go in different directions.
Like other Aaron Sorkin shows, The Newsroom idealizes and romanticizes the new business. So much so that after watching it I thought, "Damn, why aren't I doing that with my life? It looks awesome!" Idealizing and romanticizing is what Sorkin does best. But the thing that I believe makes this show unique is that the series begins in 2010 and is going to cover real news stories that have occurred between then and now. I read an article a few days ago that scoffed at this, pointing out that it's unbelievable to portray the characters in this newsroom as the only ones in the business who get things right, foresee unforeseeable consequences, and are righteous. I say get over yourself, this is fiction. This is news idealized and romanticized. If you want reality, watch a damn documentary.
As I write this, I'm scanning through other reviews online and they're mixed. Words like "self-righteous," "passionate," and "grandiloquent." Are they right? I don't know. According to them the upcoming episodes of the show are just terrible and full of banality, and that the show does a disservice to actual reporters who worked on these stories in real life. Unfortunately, I can't speak to that, but I for sure enjoyed the first one. We'll see how next week turns out.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
2,946 Miles And Back
Here are some thoughts on my recent cross-country trip from Poughkeepsie, NY, to Henderson, NV, via Tucson, AZ.
Luigi's Pizza, Akron, OH - In planning our trip, I tried to find local places where we could eat along the way. Chain restaurants can be great, but I can have Chili's any time. So, on our way to Indianapolis we stopped at Luigi's Pizza. I did some Googling and found this place, which was described as an Akron "institution." Since 1948, mind you. And it was OK. The inside has pictures of famous bowlers on the walls (as Akron used to host a lot of pro bowling events), and it looked like a family-own place with history. But I wasn't that impressed with the pizza, though my dad liked it more. First off, it was $13+ for a (large) 12-inch pie. Here in NY I'm used to 16+ inches for $10-13, depending on toppings. And to be honest, it reminded me of the pizza they used to serve on campus at Geneseo. It wasn't bad, but not my first choice.
Pappy's Smokehouse, St. Louis, MO - Probably the highlight of the trip. I found this place online as well, and it had great reviews. We arrived around lunchtime on Monday and the line was insane - it started as a U in the outer hallway, and then when you got permission you went into the main restaurant where a second line made a big L around the counter. The inside was covered with all sorts of things on the walls, and there was blues music playing. Awesome. And we weren't the only ones who had the idea to come here: behind us we met some people in town from Wisconsin for a conference. They had asked where to go for the best BBQ and were sent to Pappy's.
I decided to have the pulled pork and beef brisket with potato salad and vinegar slaw. My dad had the ribs with slaw and sweet potato fries. And wow. This food was amazing. If it's not in the best BBQ I've ever had, it's in a tie for first. The sauces were also dynamite. There were three of them, all served on the side (because they've got nothing to hide) - regular, sweet, and hot. I mixed and matched. My dad was blown away as well. I don't know when I'll get back, but at least they have a website where you can order the sauces.
Garcia's, Albuquerque, NM - We had a 16-hour day of driving on Tuesday, so we needed something quick and easy. Garcia's was just a fast, tasty (New) Mexican take-out chain not far off the interstate, and the food was good, though admittedly it was a little challenging to eat in the truck while moving. What I was most surprised at was how dense that section of Albuquerque is. Everything was so close together for a city built in the desert, and when we pulled into the little drive-thru parking lot of Garcia's we didn't know if we were going to fit. But we did.
On a side note, New Mexico is huge and beautiful, and I saw maybe the most amazing sunset I've ever seen while driving through it. But after a while, you just want to get where you're going.
Las Vegas, NV - This was my 4th time in Vegas and my shortest visit. I was only there for about a day and a half, and part of that time was spent unloading the truck and bringing some furniture to a 2nd-floor apartment. Gee, wasn't that fun? In my free time, I had Mexican at Baja Miguel's in the South Point, a burger at the Burger Brasserie in Paris, and Chinese at the Coronado Cafe in the South Point. Gambling-wise, I won $40 on a Wheel Of Fortune slot at the Tropicana, broke even on roulette at the M, and lost $40 on blackjack at the South Point. As always, if you don't lose, you win!
We still had the 16-foot Penske truck the first night in Vegas, so we were taking it up and down the strip. It was a trip trying to get it valet parked at the Cosmopolitan resort (no luck), and also at the Tropicana. Aaand my dad hit the valet with the side-view mirror as he pulled away. Classic. The guy laughed.
But to be honest, I was so wiped from the drive and the cold I had developed after St. Louis that I wasn't really into doing Vegas too much. The trip home with a cold was no grand prize, either. Vegas to Memphis, Memphis to LaGuardia, LaGuardia to Grand Central, Grand Central to Poughkeepsie, all with packets of tissues at the ready. It's hard to hit on cute girls in that condition.
And I can't wait to go back.
Luigi's Pizza, Akron, OH - In planning our trip, I tried to find local places where we could eat along the way. Chain restaurants can be great, but I can have Chili's any time. So, on our way to Indianapolis we stopped at Luigi's Pizza. I did some Googling and found this place, which was described as an Akron "institution." Since 1948, mind you. And it was OK. The inside has pictures of famous bowlers on the walls (as Akron used to host a lot of pro bowling events), and it looked like a family-own place with history. But I wasn't that impressed with the pizza, though my dad liked it more. First off, it was $13+ for a (large) 12-inch pie. Here in NY I'm used to 16+ inches for $10-13, depending on toppings. And to be honest, it reminded me of the pizza they used to serve on campus at Geneseo. It wasn't bad, but not my first choice.
Pappy's Smokehouse, St. Louis, MO - Probably the highlight of the trip. I found this place online as well, and it had great reviews. We arrived around lunchtime on Monday and the line was insane - it started as a U in the outer hallway, and then when you got permission you went into the main restaurant where a second line made a big L around the counter. The inside was covered with all sorts of things on the walls, and there was blues music playing. Awesome. And we weren't the only ones who had the idea to come here: behind us we met some people in town from Wisconsin for a conference. They had asked where to go for the best BBQ and were sent to Pappy's.
I decided to have the pulled pork and beef brisket with potato salad and vinegar slaw. My dad had the ribs with slaw and sweet potato fries. And wow. This food was amazing. If it's not in the best BBQ I've ever had, it's in a tie for first. The sauces were also dynamite. There were three of them, all served on the side (because they've got nothing to hide) - regular, sweet, and hot. I mixed and matched. My dad was blown away as well. I don't know when I'll get back, but at least they have a website where you can order the sauces.
Garcia's, Albuquerque, NM - We had a 16-hour day of driving on Tuesday, so we needed something quick and easy. Garcia's was just a fast, tasty (New) Mexican take-out chain not far off the interstate, and the food was good, though admittedly it was a little challenging to eat in the truck while moving. What I was most surprised at was how dense that section of Albuquerque is. Everything was so close together for a city built in the desert, and when we pulled into the little drive-thru parking lot of Garcia's we didn't know if we were going to fit. But we did.
On a side note, New Mexico is huge and beautiful, and I saw maybe the most amazing sunset I've ever seen while driving through it. But after a while, you just want to get where you're going.
Las Vegas, NV - This was my 4th time in Vegas and my shortest visit. I was only there for about a day and a half, and part of that time was spent unloading the truck and bringing some furniture to a 2nd-floor apartment. Gee, wasn't that fun? In my free time, I had Mexican at Baja Miguel's in the South Point, a burger at the Burger Brasserie in Paris, and Chinese at the Coronado Cafe in the South Point. Gambling-wise, I won $40 on a Wheel Of Fortune slot at the Tropicana, broke even on roulette at the M, and lost $40 on blackjack at the South Point. As always, if you don't lose, you win!
We still had the 16-foot Penske truck the first night in Vegas, so we were taking it up and down the strip. It was a trip trying to get it valet parked at the Cosmopolitan resort (no luck), and also at the Tropicana. Aaand my dad hit the valet with the side-view mirror as he pulled away. Classic. The guy laughed.
But to be honest, I was so wiped from the drive and the cold I had developed after St. Louis that I wasn't really into doing Vegas too much. The trip home with a cold was no grand prize, either. Vegas to Memphis, Memphis to LaGuardia, LaGuardia to Grand Central, Grand Central to Poughkeepsie, all with packets of tissues at the ready. It's hard to hit on cute girls in that condition.
And I can't wait to go back.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
To Buffalo And Back: Part 2
The last 5 days have been a bit on the hectic side. For the past two months I've been organizing an appreciation/retirement dinner for my three high school music teachers; one of them is retiring so we decided to celebrate the 15 years that they've worked together. The dinner was Friday night, so I was running around Thursday and Friday making sure everything was ready for it, then attending it. It came off really well, and I'm happy that a good number of people came out to honor and give thanks to these three teachers who have meant so much to a lot of people. We ate dinner, jammed on some music, and enjoyed cake. (And to top it off, I got to watch Johan Santana complete the first no-hitter in New York Mets' history at the bar in the club!)
On Saturday, In The Pocket played a wedding at Shadow Lawn in High Falls, NY - cool place (a converted barn), good music, great food (New World Home Cooking), and a very appreciative crowd. We only wish we could've played more for them. See, when we play a bar or outdoor show, we're used to playing 2-3 hours. But at a wedding there is so much going on that we're lucky if we play an hour and a half.
On Sunday, I got up before 6AM on about four and a half hours of sleep, loaded into a car with my parents and drove almost 6 hours to go to my grandfather's 90th birthday party in Lockport, NY (outside Buffalo). Like I said last week, I've driven the NYS Thruway so many times that I can do it almost with my eyes closed. My dad was driving this time, but at one point I opened my eyes and immediately knew that we were in Herkimer - no road sign necessary. And the party was mostly a success despite the massive rain that was falling at times. But that's why my uncles got a tent, of course. The party was at 2PM, and up until then all I had eaten was a banana, so I started to house the chips, pretzels, veggies, and dips, along with the Labatt Blue Light. Then the real food arrived; BBQ chicken, ribs, mac & cheese, baked beans (no thanks), salad, and cornbread from Chiavetta's. Then cake. Exhausted, we spent the night at my uncle's, then drive home yesterday.
At this point I've eaten cake the past 4 days. I need a run.
On Saturday, In The Pocket played a wedding at Shadow Lawn in High Falls, NY - cool place (a converted barn), good music, great food (New World Home Cooking), and a very appreciative crowd. We only wish we could've played more for them. See, when we play a bar or outdoor show, we're used to playing 2-3 hours. But at a wedding there is so much going on that we're lucky if we play an hour and a half.
On Sunday, I got up before 6AM on about four and a half hours of sleep, loaded into a car with my parents and drove almost 6 hours to go to my grandfather's 90th birthday party in Lockport, NY (outside Buffalo). Like I said last week, I've driven the NYS Thruway so many times that I can do it almost with my eyes closed. My dad was driving this time, but at one point I opened my eyes and immediately knew that we were in Herkimer - no road sign necessary. And the party was mostly a success despite the massive rain that was falling at times. But that's why my uncles got a tent, of course. The party was at 2PM, and up until then all I had eaten was a banana, so I started to house the chips, pretzels, veggies, and dips, along with the Labatt Blue Light. Then the real food arrived; BBQ chicken, ribs, mac & cheese, baked beans (no thanks), salad, and cornbread from Chiavetta's. Then cake. Exhausted, we spent the night at my uncle's, then drive home yesterday.
At this point I've eaten cake the past 4 days. I need a run.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
To Buffalo & Back: Part 1
I've made the trip to and from Western New York so many times that I could do it in my sleep. I don't, but I could. And I've got it down to a science. 5 1/2 hours from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo. No stops. 31+ miles per gallon. Never been pulled over. I deserve some kind of award.
I was up in Buffalo this past Memorial Day weekend to be at the wedding of a friend from college. This friend - we'll call her "Amy" - was one of my classmates and my main study partner for all my music theory classes at Geneseo. We would get ready for tests and do homework together, and then she would always do just slightly better on the tests than me. How could I miss this?
I drove up Saturday and stayed at my aunt and uncle's house in East Amherst. I was immediately given a Labatt Blue Light and put to work helping to assemble a backyard gazebo canopy thing. Yes, I am handy, but I didn't really do too much. Then we joined another one of my uncles for dinner in Lockport (my third uncle in that area - all my mother's brothers - was in Baton Rouge for a bowling tournament). I had the veal parm and it was really good. After dinner, I made my way to a BBQ where about 8 or 9 Geneseo people were gathering. Some of these people I hadn't seen in probably 6 years. I brought Yuengling to celebrate the occasion, and I had a good time hanging out, catching up, and listening to the fireworks going off in the neighborhood.
Sunday was the wedding. I looked awesome, and I met my pseudo-date outside the church. She, too, looked good, and she had run a half marathon that morning. Crazy, I know. The pastor was a lot of fun and enjoyed enthusiastically using the word "awesome." Fittingly, there was a lot of laughter during the ceremony.
After not being able to find Bar Louie to hang with everyone prior to the cocktail hour, I checked into my room and we made our way to the reception at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo. The cocktail hour had a game: correctly identify the four cheeses and you will get the wedding's signature drink, the Blue Lagoon. Ooooo. I did, then gave my drink to someone else. Too much sugar. I began drinking Jim Beam on the rocks...and I didn't stop all night. Yup. The reception was a blast. Good food, good drinks, good DJ, good dancing, good picture-taking touchscreen. I can't wait to see those pictures.
How good a time did I have at the wedding? Well, my room was 827, and the after-party was in 828. On my way upstairs I was apparently chanting, "828! 828! 828!" Nice. Well, I never made it to 828, and I think we'll just leave it at that. And yesterday morning was rough, too. Everyone at breakfast pretty much looked and felt the same. Waters for everyone! After that I picked up my pseudo-date and we drove back to Poughkeepsie, where I dropped her at the train station to head back to Astoria. Overall it was a good weekend, and smooth trips both ways. I'll do it again next weekend, but slightly different. More on that later.
I was up in Buffalo this past Memorial Day weekend to be at the wedding of a friend from college. This friend - we'll call her "Amy" - was one of my classmates and my main study partner for all my music theory classes at Geneseo. We would get ready for tests and do homework together, and then she would always do just slightly better on the tests than me. How could I miss this?
I drove up Saturday and stayed at my aunt and uncle's house in East Amherst. I was immediately given a Labatt Blue Light and put to work helping to assemble a backyard gazebo canopy thing. Yes, I am handy, but I didn't really do too much. Then we joined another one of my uncles for dinner in Lockport (my third uncle in that area - all my mother's brothers - was in Baton Rouge for a bowling tournament). I had the veal parm and it was really good. After dinner, I made my way to a BBQ where about 8 or 9 Geneseo people were gathering. Some of these people I hadn't seen in probably 6 years. I brought Yuengling to celebrate the occasion, and I had a good time hanging out, catching up, and listening to the fireworks going off in the neighborhood.
Sunday was the wedding. I looked awesome, and I met my pseudo-date outside the church. She, too, looked good, and she had run a half marathon that morning. Crazy, I know. The pastor was a lot of fun and enjoyed enthusiastically using the word "awesome." Fittingly, there was a lot of laughter during the ceremony.
After not being able to find Bar Louie to hang with everyone prior to the cocktail hour, I checked into my room and we made our way to the reception at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo. The cocktail hour had a game: correctly identify the four cheeses and you will get the wedding's signature drink, the Blue Lagoon. Ooooo. I did, then gave my drink to someone else. Too much sugar. I began drinking Jim Beam on the rocks...and I didn't stop all night. Yup. The reception was a blast. Good food, good drinks, good DJ, good dancing, good picture-taking touchscreen. I can't wait to see those pictures.
How good a time did I have at the wedding? Well, my room was 827, and the after-party was in 828. On my way upstairs I was apparently chanting, "828! 828! 828!" Nice. Well, I never made it to 828, and I think we'll just leave it at that. And yesterday morning was rough, too. Everyone at breakfast pretty much looked and felt the same. Waters for everyone! After that I picked up my pseudo-date and we drove back to Poughkeepsie, where I dropped her at the train station to head back to Astoria. Overall it was a good weekend, and smooth trips both ways. I'll do it again next weekend, but slightly different. More on that later.
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