First year in a long time where we don't have any New Years plans. Since it's not very safe driving around on this night, especially after having a few cocktails, we figured we would just stay home and invite a few friends over for food and drinks. Toasting in the New Year with friends. It beats paying a ridiculous amount of money to get into a bar, only to get one glass of cheap champagne and a noisemaker.
Some have had to cancel on us, but we think a handful will be making it over. We were thinking about heading down to Victory Park (Dallas's version of Times Square on a tiny scale).
Not sure if we're going to make it. We hear that there's going to be thousands of people, live bands, fireworks. Getting there will be a bitch. We might have to toast the new year in our living room where it's warm.
No matter what the plans are, as long as we're together, that's all that matters.
We wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Years!
What an interesting Christmas. I was going to leave Friday after work, but family indicated to me that a storm was moving through the area that night so it would be best if I came in the next day instead. So bright and early, around 5am, I hit the road for Nebraska.
By the time I hit Perry Oklahoma, it was starting to sleet. Heavily. It seems that the storm was late and was hitting right in the middle of my drive home. By the time I made it to the outskirts of Wichita Kansas, I was driving in a full on blizzard with 45mph winds and snow/sleet mixture. Eight inches was expected. After seeing hundreds of cars drive off into the ditch or plow into other cars, I knew it was time for me to try and get the hell off the road. I then heard of a 80 car pile up and a closed interstate. I had to pop a couple anxiety pills just to make it through the event. I finally got off outside of Wichita and spend the entire day and evening on Saturday in the hotel. I was able to drive into Nebraska on Sunday morning. I made it with only an hour to spare before my family sat down for Christmas dinner. I basically only had two days with them before being forced to leave Christmas Day for Dallas. Another storm front was moving in that afternoon so I had to leave early to beat it.
Seeing the hurt in my Mothers eyes wasn't pleasant. She kept saying how fortunate she was that she got to see me for a few days and that I was safe. But when we decided that I should go early to beat the storm, I could see her struggling to keep a smile on her face. She's 80 years old and constantly having health issues. She was sick most of the time that I was home. It was the first time in years that I drove away from the farm and bawled my eyes out for the next few miles.
Leaving was hard. Especially on Christmas Day.
It was wonderful to see everyone even if only for a few days. The highlight was on Sunday during our all day Christmas celebration. At one point, after hours of eating, opening gifts and a few cocktails, my nephew shows off his new tattoo. My brother walks up a few minutes later, and shows us HIS tattoo. A hand drawn heart with my Mom's husbands name in the middle. It cracked us up. Before you know it, they're drawing a homemade tattoo on Mom and her husband Orval's arm. I swear we're making this next years Christmas Card.
Since I was home a day early, I spent Wednesday relaxing around the house. Enjoying not having to go into work.
Tonight, a small group of us went to Babe's Chicken for family style home cookin'. Yesterday was Brian's Birthday. He turned 33 and so we celebrated it with friends tonight. Last night once he got home from his parents, we spent an evening having Sushi (ewww!) and a movie.
The best part of the night is when they make you stand up in front of the entire restaurant do the chicken dance with a chicken on your head.
Happy Birthday Sweetie!
Tonight, Brian and I went out to a nice pre-Holiday dinner with Steven and Mama. We ended the night by driving around the richest part of Dallas, Highland Park and looked at all the decorations while listening to Christmas music. We're talking people who spend a fortune to hire people to cover their house, trees and bushes in lights. Million dollar homes, throwing parties with a full staff, catered food and valet parking. I've never seen so many Christmas parties going on in one night in one neighborhood.
We took a bunch of photos, but most are little fuzzy since I couldn't really take pictures with a tripod, so I did the best I could. Some of them turned out pretty good.
I head out tomorrow morning for Nebraska and Brian to West Texas. The one holiday we don't spend together, since both of our Mama's would kill us if we didn't come home for Christmas.
We both want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe Holiday season.
See you when we get back.
Just a quick note to tell you all to go see the movie Sweeney Todd when it comes out on limited release this coming Friday. We got the chance to see a sneak preview last night. I absolutely loved it. There's a reason that Johnny Depp was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy. He was amazing.
It was sponsored by two local radio stations. What is it about these things that brings out the white trash in people? They start giving away silly t-shirts, coozies and towels (cum rags?) and people start acting like they're trying to win a new car. Yelling, screaming, arguing. I was just glad when the movie started so they all would shut up.
Again, so see the movie.
What the hell is up with the weather? Yes, thats right. I've resorted to writing about the fucking weather. Hey, at least it's a blog post. I could be posting pictures of Max and telling you how many times he went poopoo today like a good boy, but I'm not that desperate. Yet.
One day it's 75 degrees and the next it's 36. Then it warms up to the 60's and before you know it, it's back down to below freezing. I've got that stuffy, achy, sneezy, runny nose thing going on. I'm becoming addited to Nyquil. Someone find me a 12 step program before I OD on the shit.
On top of that, I'm suppose to leave for Nebraska on Friday. Anyone who's been watching the weather, knows that the Apocolypse is happening and the weather is coo coo for cocoa puffs. Mom is all worried I'm not going to be able to make it home for the holidays. They've received a lot of ice and snow with the forecast showing more over the next 10 days. I'll be lucky to make it there if things don't clear up. If I can't make it home, it will be the first time I've ever been away from home for Christmas. Part of me would rather stay home by myself, then be miserable at someone else's home for the holiday's. I'm such a Mama's boy.
I'll just have to see how I feel. I'm sure I could always join the other people in town who have no place to go for Christmas and sit at the bar drowning my sorrows in shots of tequila.
Ah, I'm all talk. I'm sure if I can't go home, I'll just go get drunk with Brian in Big Spring Texas with his family. I'm sure his Mama and Daddy would understand.
In other holiday news, I've finished my shopping except for Steven who's so difficult to buy for unless you're sleeping with Kenneth Cole and can get to use his discount. I also need to find something for Brian since his birthday is the day after Christmas. Another difficult person to buy for, so I've left the two difficult ones until the very last minute. If you don't hear from me anymore, it will be due to the fact that I've murdered someone in the Mall parking lot trying to find a place to park.
And work? Let's just say that I'm going to be savoring every single minute that I'm away.
We've not gone to many parties except for our neighbors. By the time we got there this past Saturday, they had broken out the drag and the Pipe of Happy Grass. Needless to say, we only stayed for one drink before heading out to have a couple of drinks for a friends birthday.
I even finished a painting for my Sister for her present. She wanted me to paint her two huge poppies. One red and one yellow. It's not my style nor something I would EVER paint for myself, but it was something that she wanted.
Hmmm, what else is going on? I'm getting fat eating Christmas cookies.
I'm back. Miss me? I know I would if I were y'all. I do miss writing in this tired old blog every day. I've even gotten some emails from people telling me they miss getting up in the morning and drinking their morning cup of coffee and a dose of Zeitzeuge. Makes a guy feel good. Doesn't do much for inspiring me to find something to write about. I could continue to sit here telling you about how crappy work is and how anxiety issues haven't gone away. But thats no fun. I know that everyone wants to hear about cock and orgies.
Well sorry, no cock and orgy stories for today.
We had a great weekend though. For some reason the Christmas Party invites haven't come in like crazy like most years. Some people we know decided against it this year. I can understand why after seeing what we spent on decorations, booze and food. You don't want to know.
Friday we had the wild hair to go to Six Flags for their Holiday in the Park days. The website said they were open. After driving 40 minutes, we get there and it was closed. I was more then slightly pissed. The weather was 80 degrees. It would have been perfect. Unlike today which is a brisk 36 degrees. Winter has finally arrived in Texas. We ended up driving around Arlington and wasting most of the evening talking. We ended up at home, talked some more then headed to bed.
Saturday we all went and saw The Golden Compass. This movie sure does have all the Christians in an uproar. I've read all three books, so just wait until the other two movies come out. Makes me wonder why they haven't protested the books? We ran a few errands that afternoon before Brian and I went on a date. Yeah, even after this long, you have to set aside time for yourselves and have actual dates. We went to Nobu. Luckily they have Japanese grill since I think Sushi/Sashimi/Tempura is the nastiest stuff on the planet. Fish flavored gummi bears is what it taste like. The place is amazing and the food was top notch. I made Brian's night by agreeing to go there. He's a sushi nut!
Rather then being good boys and going home after a great meal and drinks, we decided to go out, just he and I to the bars for some more. Well, we ended up at the Eagle until 2am. All that starts off well doesn't always end well. Little hungover on Sunday.
The rest of the weekend was spend relaxing and doing very little which is just what I wanted.
I feel so left out of the loop. Tell me about your weekend.
I was fortunate enough to see Billy Joel in concert tonight. Steven had an extra ticket. Being that he's a musical icon for almost the past 40 years, it was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up. I've never been to a concert that felt as if you were in an intimate setting. He joked around a lot, talked to the audience, made fun of himself and sang absolutely amazingly well. I have to say that after seeing a number of artist perform over the years, including Elton John, I would put him right up there with him. He was fucking incredible. To be an artist and play on stage while the entire twenty five thousand people sing along to one of your songs has to be quite a rush.
I knew he was a good piano player, but never realized how great he really is until I saw him tonight. Dare I say he's better then Elton? He might be. If only I had the chance to see both of them when they were touring together.
The greatest part about the night was during the concert, about every 3rd or 4th song, he just start playing a Christmas carol, prompting the entire audience to sing along. Before the night was over with, we probably sang about 10 or more carols. Really put you in the holiday mood.
He ended the concert with Piano Man.
What a way to end the night.
Our party was a huge success. All the work and the stressing paid off. But what ever happened to homosexuals always showing up to everything LATE? At 7:30pm on the nose, about 25 people walked in and the party was off and running. Luckily, the weather was 70 degrees and beautiful. Most people walked into the house, grabbed some food and liquor and then walked out into the patio and parking area we had set up with the keg and a bar. I would say the grand total of the night was around 100 people if not a little more. Everyone seemed to have a great time and complimented us on the house, decorations, etc. Makes a person feel good.
A little bit of drama happened, but I guess that's what happens when you get a lot of people together and lots of alcohol. Even people off the street we didn't know, were stopping in to have a beer and eat potato chips before almost passing out on our couch. Luckily, we had a strapping young buck (a friend of Steven's) who took care of things for us. By 1am, we were pretty much done with the party and the majority of people had left to go to the bars for a couple more rounds. We had to kick people out, which took us almost a half an hour. Even the clean up the next morning was easy, although our hangovers were not. I think Steven's still feeling his today. Brian on the other hand, only had a few drinks due to running around being Julie The Cruise Director, making everyone feel welcomed and keeping their drinks filled. I on the other hand walked around chatting, letting people touch my velvet shirt, silky pants and furry shoes. Brian bought me black Pony haired (I'm sure they were cow, not pony) Kenneth Cole boots! Yippee! I love dressing fancy for Christmas.
Click here to check out the nights photographs.
