Blogging Away

Ah…drunks….how I love them. One of my favorite drunks of all time made her rare appearance last Friday night at the Real Bar in Tempe. That would be good ol’ Valerie Michelle. Now, ‘back in the day’ Valerie was lovingly known as a drunk….but do not criticize too badly….we all were drunks. Now Val has gone and “growed” up — leaving much less time for drinking and such shenanigans. Until Friday. A friend of mine is in a local band called “Liars Handshake” — and they were playing at the Real Bar…I somehow convinced WK to go (which is a rarity) and she went…and got SO wasted in the process….it was truly hysterical. That girl can drink Coors Light like nobody’s business…no other beer, but the Coors. After throwing up in my car (in a cup, but still) - barely being able to stand while the music (which was great) roared….and then becoming WAY too loud in a Waffle House, I know the evening was over…but the mocking shall ensue for generations. Here is brief excerpt of the conversation Val had with the waiter, let’s call him Joe, at the Waffle House.

Val: I didn’t order jalapenos on my hashbrowns…

Me: Yes…oddly enough you did.

Val: [Grumble, grumble, starts flicking them into the ashtray….she lands about half.}

Me: sigh

Joe: Can I get you guys some more sweet tea?

Val: (not using her indoor voice, goes back to a conversation that we had finished having a few minutes earlier about a person we know)…If you’re wife died, would you get remarried in 15months? NO! That is wrong. So wrong. I have to go to the bathroom….SO WRONG! That is the worst thing ever. I would haunt a bitch that did that with Shane. Do you hear me? Haunt a bitch. Erin, if I die….you have to make sure Shane does not remarry. You have to do this. Do you hear me? YOU HAVE TO!

Me: Yes….Well, how long should he wait, 7 years?

Val: Yeah….7 years….but I will still haunt her. HAUNT HER, I say.

Joe: So, no more sweet tea?

Me: No, Joe, just the check.

Yes, I tipped him well. Val’s rants about the ridiculous are hysterical. Good times had by all….and she is so lucky she didn’t get her vomit in my car…unlike last year where she put two cigarette burns in my car in a matter of 2 minutes. Ugh.

So…this is incredibly sad for me to write…Mesa (my hometown) has been under attack by someone known as the “serial shooter.” OK….yes, it sucks…but now it hits close to home…..very close to home…This shooting…and the one previous to it….was done at the exact crossroads where I used to live….the neighborhood that I would play in at night….the neighborhood that I would sneak out in. I was talking to Kel about this….it’s where her parents still live….on the street where it happened. It is still considered a “premiere” neighborhood….one of the best. I know that neighborhood, and most of it’s inhabitants better than i know anything else. I can still tell you how many steps it takes to get from the playground at MacArthur to my backyard. It just freaks me out.

More sadness is that the individual who was murdered, Robin Blasnek, is someone we knew. Her older sister was my age and a friend of mine. we went throughout school together- same classes, same birthday parties, sports, etc.  Her other sister, Rachel, was killed a decade ago by a drunk driver….on homecoming night. I still remember that funeral…the church FILLED with mourners of every faith - sobbing, while the pastor said kind words about someone who wasn’t around to her them….I wonder what the funeral will be like this time around. I feel so sad for this family….they have endured so much.

So, the idea of “family” has been on my mind lately….what makes a family…who is included….what holds that/them together. Why do we bond ourselves together with those who surround us? Why do we give them the tools to frustrate/scare/anger us? Why do we rely on them so completely? Why are friends and lovers sometimes better candidates in the “family” category than those that share our blood? Is history equal to family?

Just some passing thoughts on this wonderfully gloomy day.

So….I got a new cat on Friday. He is adorable and his name is McGarry. Shut up….it is NOT a stupid name…especially when the first cat is lovingly named Bartlett….they had a staring contest for 2 hours last night…..poor McGarry is terrified of the cat that pees out of terror…..oh well.

I am exhausted lately….just way too tired….too much going on.

Ahem….T-26 days until the birthday approaches…..guns at the ready