angelak | Welcome Calendar Year of 2009

It's 2009, now. I think that's nothing short of fantastic. So many times this year did I say things like, "I wish this year were over." I continually wanted out of the year 2008. The yearning to be out of the calendar year of 2008 may or may not have had meaning, and I definitely had no real reason to say this sort of thing, but there you have it.

I am really hoping there is significance!

Our New Years Eve celebration went like this:
I got off work, went home - hung out with Jim. We watched AquaTeen Hunger Force for a while until Lianna showed up on our doorstep. Watched it a bit more. Then we waited until Chris, Jim's pal showed up. Then we messed around and showed Chris the townhouse, and then we killed time until we drove to Lakewood area to meet up with Mikey in the bar, and eventually Ben clocked on. It was incredibly pleasant to see both of them. I miss Mikey so much. I just want to squeeze that big black mofo every time I see him, lol.

So anywho - good times. I was already feeling pleasant at the military bar. I started the night with a redbull, wandered around the retard scene but didn't mind. No one at the bar seemed to be annoying me. The girl that Mikey used to date wasn't there. Patti welcomed us excitedly, Bella (Michelle) was on shift bar tending and I always find her super sweet.

Word on the street is that Ray Ray is sort of depressed and didn't come out and apparently boycotts Schooner's. Also, Todd (Jim's ex boss) who I had never met and only heard about for like a year randomly came sauntering up shocking the fuck out of us both and seeing as Jim knows him and I do not - I was sufficiently creeped out when the gay dude came all up in my boyfriend's space and my own exclaiming, "Who is this gorgeous, lady?" in a very *I'm letting my energy signature spew all over everything within 4 feet of me!!!* sort of way.

I had a "who the hell are you" face on, because well let's face it. My face is transparent. Something Jim and I have in common.

Then Jim explained who he was. This adequately creeped me out no less. This guy knew more possibly about me than I preferred. And I of course, never was a fan of him as the partner of Jim who came home and talked about all the douche-moves this guy seemed to make (through the filter of my reality.)

None the less I kept my eye on asshat (Todd).
At the end of New Years Eve he creepily walked up and did offer his well wishes for Jim and me in the New Year. I perfunctorily offered the same for him and his bf Ernie. Of course, I don't even know if Todd knew that I know he was gay, but it cracked me up when Ben was bouncing right next to us when Todd came up and when he left, Ben said to me, "My gaydar is going off bigtime." I couldn't stifle a giggle.

Other key events: Men were drooling over me last night. What a great way to enter 2009! I danced with a couple of non-Jims and was propositioned by one horny mofo while Mikey was sweeping up the floor right outside the ladies' room to witness it all, (I left the ladies' room and mister "Do you have a bf? How close are you to him?" came up to ask me a "question he had been meaning to ask me all night.") Hah.

If I were less Classy I might have had some mental-mess with this poor bloke-fun. But I didn't want to creep Mikey out so I let the bloke down easy. That and the last thing Mike needs is a me causing a bar-fight and (more work) for him! lol. Once the dude left I giggled and said, "did you catch that, Mikey?" :)

Something about being in a bar and knowing all the staff makes it more fun to me. My bar tender, my bouncers, my friends. Totally self centered, I know. But damn, it's nice!

This NYE was better than last year. I also caught a great midnight kiss from my fantastic boyfriend and then proceeded to catch a balloon with a scroll offering a free menu item for a future visit. Wonderful for me!!!! (Who doesn't love bar food, like ja!)

I had my 3 shots total for the night in perfection of timing and felt just enough buzz but not enough "fuck my poor little body over." It was great. Lianna hung out the whole time, and Chris. They sort of had the same thing in common. Chilling at the table. Lianna was introspective. Chris was Chris. I didn't bother making Chris dance tonight. The other men wanted to dance (and Jim! The cutest dancer on the planet). The last time we got Chris out to the bar I forced him to dance, but FIRST (his innocent, insanely amusing best friendish guy) insisted that Jim not "get upset because he was going to dance with his pals gf." I almost died. (So did Jim). Jim had to convince him that he wasn't going to get all upset about Chris putting a dance in with me. Oh, gods - Chris cracks me up. Soooooooooo innocent. If he only knew. And of course over the last few years Chris has begun to really get to know me a little more.

(Chris is usually like 10000% shy with women, but I don't count anymore because I've forced myself into his comfort zone.)

Anyhow. After 0:00 hrs, we just hung out. I got more male attention and I realized my knees were not assfucking me for dancing. I could have cried.
I heard from Ben that Matt one of the DJs was having an after party after the bar closed. So he agreed Jim and my crew could go to his house (Matt) and so we stayed until they closed the bar (which was entertaining because they kicked everybody else out, and theeeeen we left at the very end.)

After the boys got off shift we followed them to Matt's and hung out with the old fellas at Matt's place. Bella showed up, too. The last couple times she saw me and Jim she said, "You guys have been together forever." She said this again followed by, "when are you guys planning to err.. you know, get married?" and I chuckled, and said, "well we have a real estate contract. It's almost like we don't even need to get married!" but then I said, "ehh well. Someday." As Jim and I are on the same school of, "we're in no hurry" train of thought. (When the right time happens, we both know we'll know.)

We stayed a couple hours and then I indicated that we had better make our hour commute home. Jimbo was already in full swing of his "late afternoon" by the time he drove home.

I watched Mike and Ben have a few beers and pleasantly reminisced of old times and stuff.
Ben and I had spoken earlier in the night of work out routines (Ben is obsessed with working out too) and Mikey pleasantly asked me if I had lost weight. Whether he did this as a formula thing and a smart southern boy being sweet - I don't know. I'm pretty sure the Yoga has tightened up my core/hourglass and I have boycotted my scale since mid November. It still flattered me, no matter what the answer. Mikey also looked more trim, and so did Ben. And Ben astounded me with his 17 inch biceps. As a fellow work out junkie, I noticed the difference. I am sure it stroked his Benlike ego. I really do like that guy. We're both sort of Type A though so in the past I think our relationship has confused Jim.

Jim was happy and adorable all night, and because we never clung really, to each other - I am sure it made the bar-hornies confused as to whether I had a bf or not. Handy for garnering some much needed ego-boosting of my own. Wooo!!! I think my favorite guy was the random dude named Josh who probably realized I had a bf, didn't try to pick me up - but honestly just asked for a dance and truly showed appreciation for said fun. So, after a great NYE we went home, my voice was strained, and I crashed into my bed.

We got up late, I convinced people to go to Denny's because I had eaten mostly potato chips and liquor with lemonade or sugar free red bull... not exactly the greatest mix and by 1200 to 1300 I was beginning to crave... well, food! Not in the "I'm hungry," but the "my brain knows it needs fuel" sort of way.

Seeing as I rarely drink, the old Denny's craving came with the notion that I had been out "drinking," the night before. I was also just craving the ordeal. So yeay. And eggs particularly... with cheese. Which I got!!!

And it was super good. Came home, visited with Lianna and had teatime before she left. We had some great idea-bouncing best friend moments that I think both of us needed. I didn't realize I was so in need of this sort of socialization. Until we were cup-in-hand soul-sharing. How nice! I walked away with a contented beginning to my 2009. Oh, please gods and dieties! I'd love to have a fantastic year!!!!! I think I will. The good energy of the evening, the people, the general demeanor was just WAY better than last NYE.

After 4 blissful days off for Jim, he is working tonight. And I work tomorrow morning. I am tempted to CT tonight, and I know I want to start up soon alongside my Yoga practice, but we'll see! And to be honest, I am broad-sided by the notion that I am practicing Yoga at all. It did sort of hit me hard and immediate as a new path in my life.

And retrospectively, I am glad. I think I need this to help me process and to be a process that I can incorporate into my life in so.many.un-trackable ways.

-Angela