Friday. Bill spent the night at his folks and for once he was the lucky one. I watched television Thursday, and of course surfed and chatted with Juan about arrangements for Friday night’s excursion to Philadelphia and seeing the Scissor Sisters at the Electric Factory. I watched a little of the Daily Show before drifting off to sleep. It was a good sleep until 3:00AM when a car alarm went off for about 45 minutes. I lay there thinking that this wasn’t really happening, but it was. Julio confirmed this later in the day.
Work was ok, nothing special. It was a birthday day for someone in the office. That meant I had to pick up a birthday balloon before I came in, then run an errand later in the day to get an ice cream cake. Everything seemed to be going rather well. It started out pouring rain and very windy (which more than likely set off the car alarm), but by the afternoon when I had to get the cake it was nice and getting quite warm. The day ended as it should but being a Friday, took much longer than usual.
My original plan was to go to the train directly from work and ride to Hamilton to meet Juan. But I decided to run home and catch a later train. I came home to find Bill stressed out about the pay he was rehearsing for was canceled due to the ineptitude of the director/producer and his lying to Actor’s Equity about Bill stating that he was a member of Actor’s Equity. It’s a convoluted story which has left Bill feeling somewhat burned. I could only add to his stress and since I had a train to catch I left wishing that he would feel better.
The train ride was uneventful which is a good thing. I called Juan when the train left New Brunswick and waited for him when it arrived at Hamilton. Juan soon showed up and we were off to get some sandwiches at Quick Chek where Juan used his student discount and we saved some dough. We drove down some very dark highways, me and the ‘liter of the pack’, Juan. We made it to Philly safe and sound but didn’t really have too much of an idea where the Electric Factory was. We drove through some dodgy areas and asked for some directions from two girls who thought Juan was cute.
We found the Electric Factory and got in after they took my bottle of water away. The club which is really set up well also segregates people who are of drinking age and people that aren’t. I didn’t know this until Juan followed me and was carded. I wasn’t carded, they merely stamped my hand without question. Yes Juan looks young and I do not. I’m just not a kid anymore. Zoom zoom zoom!
We missed the first half hour of the show but I heard all the hits that I wanted to hear in the last hour.
The audience certainly came alive when they would play songs from the first album, more so than songs from the second. I know I became more alive. During one of the second album songs I went out for a smoke in the warmish air. It was really a big gay concert and the smoking section outside was like being in Chelsea. I stood off to the side as that’s what I usually do and some guy made a beeline to me and we started chatting about whether or not picture taking was allowed inside. He was from Wilmington, DE and used Google maps as well and got lost just like Juan and I did.
He was a nice guy and after I finished my smoke I shook his hand telling him it was nice meeting him and then I went inside. Never got his name and he never got mine. There were so many cute boys there, a few twinks and bears scattered throughout. I think it made the security very nervous, being around so many gay and gay friendly people. Too bad. Juan and I left after the show, only one encore offered. Must be time restraints, got to be off the stage by 11:00. In New York they usually don’t go on until 11:00. I like the Philly time frame. Gone are the days of seeing a show at 2:30 in the morning like I did with Julio and William when we went to see Tricky.
Juan and I drove back to Hoboken, he was staying at his mother’s in Union City. We took Route 1 where Juan showed me what an excellent and able driver he was. I was mighty impressed. I got home around 1:30, Bill sawing wood. I fell asleep almost immediately.
Saturday. Nice day, started out warm got nippy at the end. It’s St Patrick’s Day in Hoboken. They have it on the first Saturday in March so as to not compete with the official holiday parade on March 17. Score of newly of age drinkers come to town and take over, drinking all the Guinness and eventually regurgitating the black beer on the streets. I went out a few times to run errands and was surprised at all the young people wearing the green. All different sizes and shapes and colors of people are wobbling from one party to a pub then to more parties.
There was the usual parade and a sea of green underneath a sky of blue (which soon became dark). I walked the boulevard taken discreet snapshots and smoking a Padron. I didn’t see anyone I knew, just people lining up outside of bars, and that was every bar literally. It started being crazy at around 9:00 this morning with a line into the street for bagels, and none of the bagels were green. All these newbies, throwing parties in the morning only to be in the evening, throwing up. I did try to get some Guinness but they were totally sold out everywhere like I said.
I have no idea who this couple is.
