Regress or Progress: New Year's Eve 2008

Well, where do I start? This is a revision of a revision of a
revision. Not due to lack of memorable details, but rather a lot of
information and unsure what to include and what to omit. Stay with
me.... Names have been changed or just not mentioned, or maybe I just
don't remember.
The day started with a 1/2 day of work. Done in early afternoon
and planned to spend time with a best friend I would not be seeing for
NYE. After an afternoon of relaxing and talk, we parted ways for our
respective plans to step out for the night.
Let me preface this narrative description with the following: I
can only speak for myself but the anticipation and planning as well as
the actual night itself never seem to match up to the picture you
paint in your mind. Assumably you set the bar too high, so high that
is unrealistic to reach and exceed. Anyway........
After talking to the res t of the gang of NYE warriors, the
destination is the bright lights of Atlantic City. As I get ready to
get on the road, packing a bag and closing down my house for the
night, I start to think about what the night ahead will bring. It is
like an adventure waiting to unfold, and for those of you reading this
who know me, there is NEVER a dull moment..
So I clear out my car, lock the house, and I'm off. One stop at
the liquor store for adult libations, and for some, the holiday may
have started and ended too soon. Arrests are made as I'm leaving the
store and I behave and go on my way. As I get on Route 73 towards the
AC Expressway, so the journey begins...
I confirm with the rest of the tribe my ETA and I am en route. I
decide that before I cruise down the Expressway, I decide to make a
stop at a restaurant and bar though I have passed 100 times though
never stopped in to check out. Reason for my stop tonight? Compare the
atmos phere of a local establishment, in comparison to the mecca of
debauchery that Atlantic can provide. I pull into the parking lot,
walk in the door, and after a minute I am greeted by "Tracy." With a
devilish though friendly grin, she asks if I am old enough to have a
drink. I dig into my pocket and hand over my ID. She smiles and hands
it back and says "I would have said 24-25." I almost proposed on the
spot. After some talking, she asks if I'll be having another and
reply, no, it's time to get on the road. I pay, thank her, and she
said "You are young, good-looking, so I should have the world by the
b@lls.." I again thank her for the kind words, and walk out an inch
taller.
On the road again. I'm maybe 4 miles from the Expressway driving
through Winslow Township, and though at the start of the day I wasn't
completely sold on the guarantee of a good time, the excitement of the
unknown kept me moving. As I travel down the road, the radio
frequencies available start to change. I scan and hear everything from
the classics like Led Zepplin, 90's grunge and current day hip-hop. I
am a music junkie so all were making the drive go fast. Then it
happens. As I am in the left lane, an American Made muscle car, I am
thinking a '05 Mustang, is flying, probably pressing 100 MPH. As
tonight is the night for defensive driving, I move quickly over to the
right to protect myself from the line of fire. In any other situation,
this would have been the smart move. Unfortunately, Mr. or Mrs.
Andretti thought they would beat me to the punch and pass on the
right, which is where I was moving to. As we learned in high school,
two objects cannot occupy the same place at the same time. In
response, Cannonball Run opts to go BACK to the left, which is where I
was retreating to. I down-shift and brake as fast as I can as my
opponent is moving just past me. Normally this would have been OK;
except for the fact that a Honda Acc ord was making a left turn as
traveling at about 25 MPH. I am forced to pin it to the far left into
oncoming traffic, avoiding Speed Racer who is still on the move, then
punching and passing the turning Honda, probably scaring the you know
what out of the innocent bystander. My heart is now beating out of my
chest. Adrenaline rush yes, little scary, yes, though overall amp ed
me fo the rest of the night.
The AC Expressway is not too bad. It is amateur night so I am
cautious, especially after the Route 73 500 that I just finished my
last lap on. I reach Exit 5 and weave through back to Route 30/Absecon
Blvd and see the skyscrape of Atlantic City. I am here........
I walk up to my buddy's house, ready to cook for the crew; Pasta
and chicken, lobster tails, and vegetables are on the menu. And a few
drinks for good measure to start the evening. After exchanging hellos,
I get down to cooking. I was moving so fast, and catchi ng up with
everyone, I couldn't tell you the ups and downs within the kitchen.
Everyone was fed and started to get dressed for the night. A good meal
prior can take the edge off of the potential hangover to come.
As I am getting dressed, I am thinking not about the night to
come, but rather those I would not be spending it with. Scheduling
issues, circumstances or whatever the case may be, I focus, or tend to
progress rather than regress, as hindsight may be twenty-twenty, it is
time to FOCUS/POWER. Groomed and ready for a night on the town we call
our transportation, having a few drinks and laughing about the prior
summer and all the fun that was had. The summer of 2008 was a blast,
non stop, roller coaster of a time that you will probably hear about
from me here or in the future through the grapevine. The Lincoln pulls
up, and we're on the road.
Originally, I was planning to see two musical idols of my youth
tonight: Q Tip from Tribe Called Quest, guest DJing at Caesar's
Festival Pier and DJ Sat One, who I first heard spin at the Grape
Street Pub in Manayunk, since has changed location, I knew by his
nights in Philly, his CDs were always a huge hit at my parties in the
area. Actually his CDs were the highest % stolen from my house; many
say "borrowed." When they are not returned, they were stolen... After
a few phone calls from friends that knew I landed these tickets, they
were sold at premium prices. Seen them both before and will see again
so for a nominal price, they were gone......
So the new plan, after my ride down (noticing that the it is now
$3.00 and $0.75 respectively for tolls) and scalping of tickets (no
heritage reference) is to let the night lead me. Single and in a party
mecca, why not? Plenty of miserable people doing the date thing
because of what society and media tell them. Don't want to be alone.
Can't be alone. You Are All Sheep... So I let the night lead me.
Dressed and getting into the car, the night begins. After a few
stops to see local friends at the Trop, we want to see the locals and
not so locals in a bar. Upon walking in, it is mayhem... And getting
worse by the minute. We plan to see midnight elsewhere, difficult to
get a drink, and then it happened.
"Hi."
My response: "Hey."
"And I thought Santa left all of the beautiful gifts under my
tree about a week ago." End quote.
OK. I'll play along with you.. "Well, were you a good girl this
year?" Response: "I actually was a very good girl this year."
Silence. OK. Biting again. "What do you mean?"
"Well I finished my masters, moved, landed a great job, and
behaved for the most part. So where are you from?"
Me: Originally, PA. I live in Marlton, NJ.
Lass: "What do you do?"
Me: When I wake up, for entertainment, or for a living?
Lass: "Well, A B and C."
Me: First two it depends and changes often.
Lass: "OK. Fair enough. And the third?"
Me: I am Personal Trainer in Cherry Hill."
Lass: "I'm calling Bullshit. YES. BS."
Me: OK. and why? And on a side note, are you giving me a lap dance?
Lass: "You are dressed like you are your own tailor. That's a
corporate guy trait. Personal trainers wear, well, other things. And
lap dance? Why?"
Me: Seriously, that's what I do. Oh, the lap dance? You are
sitting on 1/2 of me.
La ss: "oh, I'm sorry, it's crowded as hell in here. Enough about
our resumes."
Me: Agreed.
Lass: "Either way, I am kissing you at midnight."
Me: Rrreeeaaaalllly? You think so?
Lass: That's right. And Why? Because my friends and your friends
are near one another, we are not with a significant others, and that's
that..."
Me: No.
Lass: No. Why? Or what the %^&**(?
Me: I'm kissing you.
Lass: "You think?"
Me: Yup
Fast Forward: 45 minutes later as the count-down begins, there is
a cutie standing behind me. 10, 9, 8, 7 6, 5..... And sure enough, she
plants a number on me. "See, I kept my promise." No and Yes. "Do you
know what I went through to get here? Yes. There are 800 people here.
We have a drink and laughs and we both go our separate ways..
As I'm leaving, navigating carefully through the masses, a girl
is TRYING to take a picture. Taking too long. I gently excuse myself
around her. then I hear a male voice behind me and my people, mumbling
something sounding like what the F and trying to get my attention. I
have been down this road 400 times. Sure, ace, what do you need? I
turn around cautiously, explain I was trying to get by and leave it at
that. Said patron opts to continue to run his mouth, and my patience
has waned. Fortunately a member of my entourage briskly convinces him
that him and his party should go back to what they are doing and enjoy
the night. Said entourage member also, within .5 seconds had the
aforementioned 25 y/olds knock-off Dior dress shirt from Express tied
in a knot cutting off his circulation to his upper extremities. It's
over Johnny, it's over. Security approaches, saw the entire thing and
escorted him out through the kitchen. After working in the nightclub
business, this unfortunate party-goer is encountering what they call
"being tersely escorted out through an area where there are NO
cameras. The ER and his dentist are the next stops.....
So my group is all over the place. After another cab ride, a few
stops I end up in the smoking lounge at, well, who the F knows? I step
in, put my overcoat down, and take a call from my best friend who is
in Phila for the evening. Bad reception, can't here shit. Step towards
the door, Wishes exchanged and a promise to call in the next few
minutes or so. I turn around, poof, jacket is gone . WTH? Well, I
guess the occasion brought out the worst in people. I am moving on.
Walking over to the card area, there are not too many vacancies to
sit. Sit down at a Video Poker machine, sit down with my donation and
get started. Get on a roll and a few hundred later, i AM READY to meet
up with people. Great thing is that, despite the steam coming out of
my ears, I was a few hundred to the good. Full houses, four of a kind,
the cards just fall. Happy New Year to me. Karma? Who cares..
So the rest of the gang are pulling slot handles, playing
blackjack and everything else. It's 2 am at this point, and I walked
in the door at 4:25 am. fun night. Any other details you as readers
can forward to me. What we walk away as a lesson or words to grow on:
Off Kilter View's The Top Ten. Here we go.................
1. Create your own time and destiny. As you can see, I did.
2. Surround yourself with those who you truly love, as life is
passing by. Those who you reach out and care for may not be around
per their choice all the time.
3. Step out and kiss a man or woman that you may not know, live
each day passionately.
4. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
5. Enjoy the drive as much as the destination. As we know, it is
not a sprint but a marathon.
6. Protect those who depend on you. Do not prey on the weak.
Stand strong at all times. That is your job. Case closed.
7. Live, love, and every once in a while, party like Guns and Roses.
8. I just watched the movie "The Bucket List." Sit down and watch
though even if you don't and just hear about it from me, do not write
a must do list with 6 months to live. And find the joy in your life.
Do not wait until a eulogy, tell them about your love and passion now.
Do i t now....
9. Witness greatness and with no ego involved, practice that.
10. With 9 rules, remember them and live your life day by day,
moment by moment, and F smelling the roses. Tackle the head
cheerleader, knock out the bully, shake your neighbors hand and not
kiss that ass, dance in the car, sing in the shower, live fully and
deliberately, and read my next blog. Catch you all on the flip
side..........