Last week I found myself in the middle of the busiest week I’ve had in a long, long time. Sunday started it off, being Father’s Day and my Mother’s birthday on the same date… something I saw coming from miles away. In June I get hit the heaviest. I am more broke in June, usually, than I am in December for Christmas, which doesn’t really make sense looking at it. But, just to give you a clue: My mom’s birthday, Father’s Day, my sister’s graduation, semi-welcome committee for a friend’s boyfriend, 3 consecutive shows at the Bowery Ballroom (2 Sloan shows, 1 Polvo show — the bouncer at the Bowery recognized me and said, “Welcome back, what is this, night number two, or three?” To which I responded three, and he nodded and smiled), Starr’s birthday, and a long weekend vacation to Toronto that I have to purchase. I will have no money come July 1st after I pay my rent and other bills, but I will be the kind of broke that makes you happy… I can take a look back and not regret any purchases, none of which have isolated me, but somehow have brought me closer to one person or another or have enlightened me in a little way that I only know about. If that makes sense.
Day-by-day rundown:
Tuesday - Katie’s graduation. Worried that it might rain, it actually turned out to be a gorgeous evening. It had been raining every day leading up to it, and even afterwards, but the rain held off so we could sit on the bleachers and watch the tiny dots that were the graduates get their diplomas and bounce beach balls around during the ceremony. It rained on my graduation day, which was just as well, because even though I was finally free of the school the ceremony itself was awful and boring to sit through and I felt rather let down about it all. I didn’t get to sit with the few friends that I did have, and had to sit with my homeroom instead. Torturous. In any case, I still can’t wrap my head around that fact that my little sister graduated from high school and will be going on to bigger, better things. We followed the ceremony up with getting chinese food from my sister’s favorite place and bringing it back to my parent’s house to eat outside in the still lovely weather.
Wednesday - Friends over for pizza (Modern!). Wasn’t feeling that well to begin with, very tired, but it was hard for me to say no to this company. We played Mario Kart and my friend’s daughter made up silly names for us and drew pictures (that immediately went up in the kitchen, not on the fridge, since there’s no room, but on the pantry):
Thursday & Friday - Sloan. I thought I would never get out of work. Running late, down to the minute, almost missed my train leaving New Haven after a really busy day. Once I made it into the city, I relaxed. I took my time getting to the venue, which is unlike me, as I wasn’t one of the first people in the door. It took a while for more people to show up — I was nervous there wouldn’t be a good turn out. Sloan had their own DJ before (and during!) the show playing songs instead of the house music that normally plays, which is always hit or miss. Both nights I had a drink before the show to settle my nerves a bit, but the drinks are so expensive I didn’t want to buy anymore, although I did want to drink more. (Many of you don’t know this, but the second Sloan show I ever saw was in 1999 and I was so totally wasted for it, although I do remember most of it and having a good time and shouting out “PATRICK!” really loudly and probably annoyingly. We got so wasted and spent all our money on alcohol that we didn’t have enough money to take a cab to Grand Central that we walked from the Bowery to Midtown in a state that we probably shouldn’t have. I woke up still drunk the next morning, but still happy and still buzzing from the happiness that comes from seeing Sloan) I have to say that I liked Friday’s show better. Both the audience and the band seemed to be in better spirits. It felt like more hardcore Sloan fans were there. Seems like everyone knew every word of every song and was dancing and singing along. This time I actually said hello to some people I always see at Sloan shows and we chatted a bit and enjoyed the show together. I see the same people time after time and even recognize a good many of them… it’s hard not to, after about ten years of seeing them live, year after year. (Although, I think I missed them once, in 2002 when I was living in Arizona. I talk myself into thinking it wouldn’t have been a good show anyway, because that’s when they were touring for Pretty Together, which happens to be my least favorite Sloan album. It works.) So, Friday I showed up to work with about four hours of sleep, but a big smile on my face.
Saturday - Saturday morning I woke up with a little more sleep, but not by much. I joined a few friends for a little touristy action in NYC (and my third consecutive ride into the city that week), to show someone around that hadn’t been there yet. (And surprise is always my reaction, because I grew up around the place and there wasn’t ever a time that I wasn’t able to go to New York when I wanted to. I never take it for granted, but I’m always dumbfounded when someone who lives in the U.S. over the age of 21 has never been to NYC. Although, it could be the same for me, because I’ve grown up on the east coast all my life and I have never once been to Boston!) We went to Central Park, the zoo at the park, past all the major attractions we could on the way and on the way back to Grand Central where I parted from them and then took the subway downtown to the Bowery again. They chose not to join me, and therefore missed out on a less crowded section of the city. They missed out on Pommes Frites and Tompkins Square Park and a section they’ve never been in and maybe never will. Maybe they wouldn’t be impressed, anyway. I saw Polvo perform that night. I sat up on the balcony this time, although some part of me wanted to be in the middle of it all. I wrote a bit (actually wrote a bit more, it seemed like I was on a roll when it came to writing that afternoon) and read a bit and talked to the people who sat next to me about Polvo and about other shows we’ve seen and how far we’ve traveled to see said shows. I also talked to Dave Brylawski’s Mom and Dad for a bit and they bought me a beer. Even offered me a second one, but I declined, but I thought they were really cute and excited to see their son and his bandmates perform. It was great to see their support and the support of everyone else who came to see them (Sold out show!). I think that was the most social I’ve been at a show towards strangers ever! ha.
And Sunday I rested. Just like God. 
This week seems tame in comparison. It feels nice, but I also feel kind of restless, like I should be doing more. I like not losing sleep, but I hate going to work and coming back home knowing I can be doing more exciting things, you know? Kind of like a kid who doesn’t want to go to sleep in fear he might miss out on something fun.
This weekend is Starr’s birthday and a get together at her parent’s home in Fairfield which I haven’t been to in a very long time. July 4th comes up soon, and I was lucky to get Sonic Youth tickets for that day. I’ll watch them and stay for the fireworks and then go home. I have the day off from work. And in a couple of weeks I will be in Canadia. June and July, not so bad.