March Fourth Birthday Bash

I love this show. It's the show where I first stepped on stage with Kazum, in 2007's birthday bash. In 2008 we stomped and danced hard enough to drive a stage-support through the floor of the Crystal Ballroom. And in 2009 we threw a raucous show that evolved into a crazed afterparty that rivaled the New Year's party. That's saying something.

We did a matinee on Sunday (Wednesday was 3/4). Kazum performed "Comes Love" in the noon matinee, and it was a good show. Then I hung around and watched the 4:00 show, which was also very good despite its lack of Kazum. Nanda was there, instead, and their set was delightful. Near the end Chen begins whaling on John Averill, then the other Nanda guys jump in against the drumline, but the M4 drummers beat Nanda down and stab them to a gruesome death with their drumsticks. I got a little choked up.

I got to hang around and watch the whole second matinee performance, which was a rare treat. I saw Scarlett dance... she's absolutely incredible. I saw a bunch more of the M4 dancing & stilting. It's been a year or more since I've caught more than a backstage glimpse of an M4 show. They're amazing. They had a short-term dude dancer - Oberon - who's a little taller than I am, but built like Alex. He was incredible, and he seemed a great fellow. I got to hang around and talk with Eros, who I met at LiB last year. He's one of the best stilters I've known, and he's an amazing guy as well. I hung out with him for quite a spell at the afterparty, when he's about as normal and unremarkable as one could imagine.

I also stopped by on Tuesday afer practice and caught quite a bit of the show, though we weren't performing or anything. I was supposed to be working on the Kazum stickers with Miranda & Uli, {whine}but they ditched me and never called back, so I guess I get whatever they come up with.{/whine} I did get to hold Aspen on my shoulders as he drummed, and carry Amy around in a Chair, which we've not done for many months.

On Wednesday the fourth we had the big birthday bash. It was wild & crazy. Gaelen was there, which was awesome! She doesn't usually want to go to fun things, for some reason, but she made a special effort for the M4 show. The show was really exciting, and it turned out well overall. Miranda & I missed our walkup, which killed our Cupie. :( And the ass-catch overthrew (which I should've anticipated) and it was an assisted landing rather than a catch-and-cradle. Still, overall, things were spectacular. As the final number built to a frenzied climax Gaelen had a horrible experience on the dance floor with overly-amorous drunken bastards. It really hit her hard and utterly ruined her evening. It was horrible timing, 'cause I was trying to stay alert for people telling me where to go for the final number. Plus it was so loud that I couldn't hear Gaelen at all, I could just see that she was upset but I didn't know why. I ducked out as soon as I could, leaving the wild raging beginnings of the afterparty with Gaelen. I left to take her home but she went home on her own instead. I took some time to calm myself from the whole ordeal, then I moseyed back to the now-in-transition afterparty.

It relocated to one of the M4 guys' house, which was a spectacular party house. There was an amazing music room downstairs, plus a pull-out bed that hosted quite a tangled mess of cuddling & kissing bodies. It wasn't as lecherous as it sounds, but it was pretty wild & crazy. I spent a lot of time in the backyard by the fireplace as light rain fell, talking with Eros & others. There were a lot of fascinating people wandering about, some of whom I knew and most of whom I either didn't know, or I've met but I don't remember. I re-met Kyle, whom I don't remember talking to my kids about (but I talk about my kids to a lot of people). I bumped into Rictor the photographer a few times. I stunted (an arabesque) with LaTisha. Claire (one of Alex's good friends) tried to make out with me, which was adorable, but even though Alex insists she's an adult I perceive her as about 12 years old. She & her gorgeous young roommate Mika were entirely occupied with the love-nest until becoming a portion of the chosen ones who relocated to a more private location for all manner of debauchery.

But that happened elsewhere. At the house party there was drinking & laughter & talking until the sun arose. I helped a new friend (Lila, I believe?) clean up quite a bit, then I gave another new friend (Andy, I think?) a ride home on my way to work.

The nightmare Gaelen went through was horrible, but other than that the evening and the event were spectacularly successful! It was one more in a crazy string of "Best Nights of my Life to-date" for Alex (who participated holehardedly in the more private after-after-party celebration). After listening to a handful of his stories I have to join him in opining that it's not likely he'll ever top that night.

I find it odd that I'm not jealous. Very encouraging, and a relief. I'd so much rather have kids than recurring nights of hedonistic satiation. That ain't good for me. Maybe Alex will get different results; I hope so. He seems to be truckin' along pretty well, and he's a pretty amazing dude so maybe he's got a shot at something I never did.

So why do I feel worry more than I feel happy for him? *shrug*

Kazum may do a show with Alex's group (The Hades Ladies) in San Diego, this October. That'd be way cool. He's leaving in 2 weeks and I don't know what I'll do when that happens. It's been really wonderful having a best friend for the last 6-8 months or so. *mopey sigh*