Thursday 1/24, When I got home from work I did my workout video and it again kicked my ass and I was sweaty and red as ever. I cleaned a little bit before taking a shower and eating dinner. Michael called while I was cleaning and told me to come any time after 9 and told me I should change my voice mail to the Rairdon song, but to make it my own interpretation by singing it. We had each other laughing so hard. I just love him. While I was getting ready I watched Ugly Betty which I have somehow gotten sucked into; I don't even think it's funny or even care about it but I can't not watch it. Ugh, let's hope I get over it soon. After it was over I grabbed my Izzies, hit the road, called Susan and met her up in front of the Egyptian. We got decent parking on Denny then walked to Michael's from there. When we entered his apartment we were greeted by Rebecca, Sydney, Nick and a ton of candles. It was so romantic or something. I broke out one of my fizzy drinks and we all settled in and started talking. Michael got out the Hershey's Miniatures and when Susan snitched that I'd eaten a Mr. Goodbar he was like "You bitch!" which made me laugh. We spied on some of the neighbors and Michael gave us the dirt on everyone...then got out the binoculars. Pretty soon another guy showed up, Ed, and he drives old people around and gives them facials which is totally fascinating. Susan and Michael talked about music and shows and it was all over my head because it was before my time. Michael broke out the picture box and was pulling out all these pictures of Eric and I just sat there looking lovingly at them, mostly because he wasn't wearing a shirt in the majority of them and you could see all his tattoos. Sighhh. Susan scolded Michael and told him no more pictures of Eric, but I was like "What else have you got in there Michael?" Rebecca knows Eric and said he's got a heart of gold and is a good guy but lately has been acting like a dick. Interesting. Michael told us about some movie with Ryan Phillipe and a chocolate bar that had me and Susan cringing. Then, THEN, Jesse showed up. Oh Jesse. He was so hot but of course gay. At least I know where he works though...heh. Why am I so into bouncers? Gay or straight, bring em on! Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I'm glad he had us over because meeting new people (especially hot ones) is always fun and I like filling my time before Neighbs with a little something different and unexpected. We both got hugs from Michael and Ed on our way out and semi-jogged back to my car. It was freeeezing. We drove up, parked on Broadway and when I told Susan I would meet her inside because she had to put her scarf in her car she was like "Fine, you're not getting a ride to your car later!" and I laughed. When we went in there was no sign of Eric and I was like "Where the hell is he?!" and Susan was like "Take it up with him" pointing to the money guy and right at that moment he walked in. Whoops! I asked "Where were you last week?" and he was sick and ended up upstairs somewhere sleeping on a couch for 4 hours. We went in and checked our coats right away because it was so hot in there then did a bathroom stop and one of the trannies was like "Why the hell do they put flyers right on the mirror? They just don't want us girls at the club!" and I was like "Um, yeah, I know!" but I really don't because I doubt the boys bathroom is much better. I went out and waited for Susan and while waiting talked to Ginger and she was wearing red glittery lipstick (a la Dorthoy's slippers) and gave me a big hug when I complimented her outfit...I still think she wants to make out with me. We went out to dance fairly quickly and got hugs from Tye and started noticing the hilarity around us. There was a frizzy haired guy dancing all around us that evening, but I think it was less about us and more about him looking at himself in the mirror. I got a brilliant idea to text Michael so I came up with this little gem (not approved by Susan): "Michael, I'm in love with Jesse. Do you think he'd make out with me? Ha!" so I sent and got back "Yup!" then I told him not to tease me and that I love him. He sent me back something equally gushy. We kept our eye out for boys and saw Eric patrolling and I would sing to him as he walked away or had his back to me. We saw Margot and Socks and Sandals in a big hug-y dance thing with some other girl but Margot managed to break out a few minutes later. Ky showed up; cue me squealing and jumping up and down, and I told him Eric was there and we gossiped a bit then he left to get a drink. Von Trapp was playing all sorts of ridiculous 90's mixes so Susan and I left too and stood by Ky. He was trying to show me a guy wearing tight-in-the-hips hip huggers then when Eric walked by and paid us some attention he said "Would you just sleep with him already? Oh my God, this is so Sex and the City! I'm Stanford and I'm with you girls at the club, and oh, your hair is so Carrie right now and I'm like "You're sooo going to sleep with him!"" So that was fun. Then Vicki and Ryan showed up with a whole bunch of people and I was separated from Ky then I noticed some guy pushing him, looked like a bouncer or something, so I rushed over and pushed the guy from behind and was like "Get off!" and he was like "It's cool, it's cool!" and I was like "No it's not, get off!" and continued pushing. He left Ky alone but Ky was like "He just put his hand down my pants" so I asked him if he wanted me to tell Eric, but the guy left so we didn't. He wanted to go have a cigarette and said he would be back in if the guy was out there. He didn't come back in but I got a text saying he was going home. So Susan and I are back on the floor dancing our cares away when all of a sudden she's like "Oh God, Damon's here" and sure as shit he was and he was looking gooo-ood. Suddenly the night was getting infinitely more interesting. Teal and Darren showed up with Jeff in tow who is now sporting a lip ring (hmm, I think I have a thing for those, maybe he read my profile and knew how to lure me in), a scruffy beard and much shaggier hair. Susan did a lap and I waved at Jeff and before I knew it he was over and talking and dancing by me. We chatted about the Eastside and work and getting up early and his lip ring and he was standing very close to me, but whatever, I'm not too worried, he seems fairly harmless. I could’t stop looking at his lip ring though. Susan beckoned me over to where she was dancing with Teal and I got a hug out of him and we all danced in a circle. The boys left and I wanted some water so we went to my favorite and he was testing me seeing if I would still find him then we fled upstairs, because Damon was up there, and ended up running into him at the top of the stairs. I stood and watched the crowd as Susan talked to him for a long time. Eventually these two guys came up and told me to sit down and talk with them and I didn't resist, I just resigned myself. Travis and Jered (gay and straight respectively) asked me who I was there with so I pointed to Susan then all the boys and they were floored I know Tye and that he's straight. Susan came over then we went down and danced and treat of all treats, Darren came and danced right next to us and even smiled. That polo shirt was so f-ing hot. It was getting late and I hadn't talked to Eric yet and since Damon was lurking around I told Susan I was going to go stand by the pillar and hope that he'd come talk to me. We saw him walking and she was like "There he is, go!" so I went and stood by myself and I bet I only had to stand there for about 40 seconds before he came up from behind and scared the shit out of me. He told me that if I'm not going to dance then he's going to tell them to bring the drag shows back, then I touched his arm and told him how excited I was that they hadn't done even one that night. We talked for a long time about work and him being sick and how paramedics take awful care of themselves and he kept using the word "civilians" which cracked me up, then working out and, oddly, sewing, safety pins (for his shirt) and suturing. He eventually had to go work the door so I went upstairs to look for Susan, spotted her in the back bar with Damon so I ran down and told her I was leaving, said hi to Damon then went and got my coat. I put it on, tapped Eric on the shoulder and just gave him a little wave, since he was talking to someone, and he looked at me and held up a finger, like wait a second, so I stood there for a few seconds then that guy left. The dialog went like this:

Him: So you're taking off?
Me: Yeah, I've gotta work in the morning.
Him: (getting out cell phone) Well, I want to get your number because I'm going to be putting in my notice, so...
Me: You're leaving?! Nooo.
Him: (a bunch of stuff about working two jobs and actually getting to have a day off and not wanting to work the club scene anymore)
Me: (punching my number into his phone with colorful post-its) Well, since we're both on the Eastside I guess we kind of owe it to ourselves to hang out.
Him: (confirming where I live on the Eastside)
Me: Yeah, so give me a call (mischievous smile) See you next week... (started walking away, turned around to smile again).

So I'm on my way down the alley and see PMT and I'm like "Hi!" because I'm all excited about Eric, and he stops like 29 feet from me and is like "Hi!" so then we move closer and start chatting for a few minutes about it being cold and working in the morning and how it's warm inside and how since it's already Friday you might as well live it up and that work on a Friday is going to suck anyway so you might as well float through it half-asleep. It was fun and he's so nice. Who knew? Well, I think Susan did. We bid each other good night and I walked quickly to my car, though I started walking the wrong way since I forgot I parked on Broadway, and texted Susan on the way. Then in the car I texted Ky, drove home and received a "Yay!" text from Susan. Went to bed right at about two, and very giddy.

Wednesday 1/23, What is it with me having dreams about boys lately? I had the funnest dream about Sam...in a sort of middle school way. He was having a sleep over with a whole bunch of people and I got there late but laid down not long after I got there because I was so tired. Some guy pulled my blanket off me and dragged it over to the spot next to Sam (meanwhile in my dream I'm only wearing my underwear and bra - geez! I’m such a floozy!), so I got up, walked over to where my blanket was and laid down in the spot next to Sam. Before I knew it Sam's foot had crept under my blanket to rest on my foot and he asked if that was ok. I said yes, but was so tired I didn't think much else of it. Then he got up to go do some carving because his back hurt. Apparently that helps. A few minutes later everyone had gotten up and left so I got up then Sam came back in. I don't remember the rest but I vaguely remember a chalk board and Sam showing me something on it. See? Fairly middle school. Anyway, my Wednesday at work was like the most entertaining ever, involving texts from LPC (":) you're painless"), trading messages back and forth with Susan about Moppet who's going to be in town for a few days and might get neck punched, and lastly messaging back and forth with Kay-See who had received a message then a photo comment from Zephy that was very suggestive and absolutely hilarious. My jaw was on my desk then the laughter couldn't be stopped. Things after work were not quite as entertaining. I went to the DMV to try and track my title that I should have had 3 years ago, so I figured out what I have to do there then went home and worked out and added the next step of the program and it absolutely kicked my ass. I was sweating all over the place, my face was beet red and I couldn't even keep up. It was insane but I felt good afterward so it was worth it. I made some dinner, watched tv, showered and got the pjs on and just relaxed. I talked to Susan for a while then put on Inside Job which was good and played Solitaire. I went to bed a little after 11.

Tuesday 1/22, At work I read online that Heath Ledger died which was totally shocking. I received multiple texts and myspace bulletins but I already knew by the time those came in. LPC posted a hilarious bulletin and asked “Too soon?” and it definitely is, but it was still funny. Michael called to chat and we talked about Heath and Thursday and perhaps getting together prior to going to Neighbs. I picked up my prescription after work then went home and started a fire because it was so cold. I brought my computer down and sat in front of the fireplace and watched tv and read a little of my Martha Stewart Weddings then made stuffing for dinner and wondered why I haven’t done it more often because stuffing is DELICIOUS. I probably sat around on my ass and did nothing for the rest of the night. I’m productive like that.

Monday 1/21, I dreamt that Eric's roommates wanted him to be with me more than with Nicole and so when I invited them all to go to Leavenworth with me they insisted on taking their own car because they wanted me and Eric to have time alone together. Eric spent a lot of time getting his stuff into my car for the trip, including some gray running shoes that I'm pretty sure he would never ever wear in real life. My dream ended before we ever made it on the road. Hmm, bizarre. I had my follow up dr appt for my skin and it went fine, I had my blood drawn, took the pregnancy test, took the quiz and asked the questions I had then walked out, prescription in hand. While at work LPC sent me a very nice message on myspace that said he was glad we met and that he feels like his life is better because he knows me. I was very touched, even if it's all bullshit, so I wrote him back and proposed getting together sometime to talk story. He wrote me back within minutes with entertaining commentary and agreed about meeting up. I don't think he's interested in hookin it up, but I've been severely wrong about these things in the past. In any case, I'm not interested, and that's that. After work I went to try and fill the Rx but they have to order it because I had to give them the little card, plus the prescription and they have to look me up in database so getting this stuff is like the biggest pain in the ass ever. At home I stretched for my workout while talking to Susan then worked out and felt pretty sore afterward...which is a fantastic feeling. I ate some dinner, paid some bills, talked to Susan again about Mulally, their show on Friday, J, LPC, Ian and myspace stalkers. I wrote Ian a non-stalkerish message and he replied with an equally funny “Girl, you craaazzy!” and a happy face. I watched tv but went to bed fairly early because I had a dentist appointment at 7 the next morning.