Wednesday, February 02, 2005
When we last left off with me in Birmingham I had just surprised Randy at his job, and he was beaucoup excited-cited. SO then I had to wander around for 3 hours in this gigantic mega-plaza while he finished his shift. I mostly sat around/ loitered in Barnes and Nobles reading The Puritan Dilemma for my history class, and drinking up all there free ice water with lemon. Finally Randy got out of work, and we were off to the show. The performance space, called Cave 9, was nothing too great. Especially since it was an all ages place that didn't serve alcohol and you couldn't smoke in. That meant there was a lot of young kids too. Everyone was pretty cool though, no assholes. Randys friends were all nice, and Randy's bandmates were the best. I mostly hung out with Angelica by the door all night. The lineup was something this, I'm sure not sure about the order:
There soooo many people (all of whom were close friends of Randy, apparently) and it was a really great show. Most of the bands were not really the kind of music I am into, but Randy really liked all of them and he is way pickier about music than me so check them out anyway. I DID really like some of We vs The Shark's stuff and I always like everything Fratelli does. And I am not just saying that either, I think they are really good. Were, I guess. =(
After the show we went to some Middle Eastern place I think called Al's or something. The guys from Recovery period were there and they were really funny. The place also has a really good veggie burger, if you are in the neighborhood. We left there and were so so so tired. We took home Randy;s friend ?Larua? I think her name was. This girl was so great, she was one of the people that stands out the most that I met. She is a clothing designer, among other things, and when we went in her house she had SOOOO much awesome art stuff that she did. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Then it was just me and Randy. I wasn't allowed to sleep at his place because he lives with his parents, and they are slightly disapproving of his gayness, so we ended up at the Hampton Inn. That was the first time I had ever stayed at hotel with a boy like that, so I thought it was really fun. We got free toothbrushes and deodorant!
Next day we missed the free breakfast at the hotel because we slept in. It was ham and eggs too. Nuts! We checked out of the hotel and drove to Randy's house. I got to meet his mom, she is super nice. And his cat Marty. THEN we went to Michael's house to pick him up. He is Randy's best friend, and also former bandmate. He is really cool, I like him a lot. After he tried on what seemed like everything he owned and back again, we headed out to eat. We couldn't decide on a place, and we were running out of time before the civil rights museum closed, so we ended up eating at Randy's favorite hot dog place, Gus' Famous ( I know the thing says Pete's Famous, I don't know, ask Randy) The guy in that picture if you follow that link, was actually there when I went. He called me "Mustard" because that's all I wanted on my hotdog (which apparently doesn't go over well in there) Michael was "Beef and Cheese" and for some reason Randy was "Baby". The place is SOOO skinny you can't sit down. Everybody lines up, you order your hotdog, Gus gives it to you. Then you can either leave or eat there. If you eat there (which we did) you go all the way to the back wall and eat your hotdog standing up. When you are done Gus' wife rings you up and then you have to squeeze by all the people waiting in line so you can get out. It was good though.
Then we went to the civil right museum, and it was REALLY cool. I was so glad I went. We had pretty much the run of the place, but at one point we came across a black man and his daughter (she was maybe 8) going through the exhibits, and I was crying right there in the museum because she asked him "Why couldn't those people sit where they wanted on the bus?" and I just couldn't imagine being in that man's position. How do you explain to your child that people hate her for no good reason? You want to protect her from the world, but you also want her to know what to expect. It's just gross, and I hope one day all that father will have to say is "People were strange back then, I suppose."
After the museum we went to go visit Michael's girlfriend, Joy, at work. She is a whole lot of fun! And so cute! We were all supposed to eat together (yeah I was starving) but her break wasn't long enough so it was just me, Randy, and Michael who ended up going to Johnny Corino's. I know it's a chain place, but holy crap! It was so good! Maybe it was just because I was hungry, but I don't know. After dinner it was back to Randy's house so we could get some stuff to sleep over at Michael's. I said my goodbyes to Randy's mom, not before she hooked me up with a glass of wine, and it was time to party at Michaels. A bunch of people came over, most of who's names I don't remember. Codey (guitarist of the Great American Breakdown, I think?), Patrick (so fun!), and Jesse from Randy's band, a guy named Joey maybe?, Leigh Anne, and then like 6 teenage girls and some more guys. It was fun. There was gin and beer. We played The Best Game Ever! (If you don't know what it is, find somebody who does, because its real fun, but I don't know how to explain it in this format.) Everybody left, Randy and I slept on the inflatable mattress.
My last day in Birmingham was a sad one indeed. My train was late, so randy had to leave me at the station so he could go have birthday cake with his fam. (But not before he took me to Arby's. It was my first time there, and woah. I like roast beef sandwiches.) The train ride home was long long long. I ended up having dinner in the dining car, which was ok. I wanted the special, but they "ran out" (even though this guy that came in after me ordered it and got it DAMN YOU AMTRAK!) so I had to have T-bone steak. I don't like steak that much. Then I got home and I ended up WALKING all the way from the train station.
And that completes my trip to Birmingham. There was come cuddlin' and kissin' going on in there, but a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell... in explicit detail. But I sure do miss it. *sigh*
p.s. I hope you enjoy all those links. I was really bored at work.
