So when one needs to happen - like this weekend in which her new band, Chill Factory X, did their first gig - I'm always happy to fly to wherever she is and help. Because I like hosting parties. I think of it as an extension of my job...I produce the party.
We clean up nice!
Chill Factory X
While I was helping out this weekend it made me think back to a time when Lisa lived in Cleveland, OH. It was winter and she was throwing a party that involved another batch of musicians, a drum group she was performing with. I had been out to Cleveland several times at that point; once I was there to belly dance in Parade the Circle with her drum group. It was ridiculously fun and I ended up having a little crush on her drum teacher.
He was cute in a "dad" sort of way (not really my usual type) and crusty as fuck (totally my type). We were both sarcastic and had good repartee. This all produced some sparks and it felt like we were moving toward an evening of adult fun.
So there I was at this party. It was super cold outside. Everyone had left or gone to bed and I was staying in the basement guest room which was pretty perfect for privacy. We were sitting on the couch, chatting, having a drink, listening to music. Everything was lined up for a lovely conclusion to the evening. The music we were listening to turned over and he suggested I choose the next album. At this point, I remember feeling a bit shy about that because he's a musician and I'm not. But I was a girl with a mission so I went to the cd collection (this was many years ago) and picked If I Were a Carpenter, which is an album of Carpenters covers. And this isn't just a bunch of shitty covers, this features Shonen Knife, Sonic Youth and 4 Non Blondes to name a few.
We were listening and chatting and all of a sudden he's like "Oh, I gotta go, it's really late."
Wait, what? Did I look bad? Was I stinky? What the fuck happened?
The next morning, Lisa was sure we'd had a sleepover guest so when I downloaded the situation to her she was as stumped as I was. Later, when she asked him about it, she found out that he was horrified that I had chosen to listen to the Carpenters.
What. A. Fucking. Snob.
This weekend was the exact opposite in which, at the 11th hour of flirting with a completely viable dude, I was like "Thanks but no." But it wasn't about anything as snooty as what music he listened to.
Post-party detritus: all that was left was half a cupcake and some Coke.
Midnight, Texas - NBC, released in 2017
This is the most recent series I binge-watched. There is only one season so far but it's slated for another. This was recommended to me by a woman who works at my local market. What? You don't chat about TV shows with your checker? Clearly, you are missing out. We have discovered that we watch many of the same shows and she didn't steer me wrong on this one.
Midnight, Texas is based on a book series by Charlaine Harris, who also wrote the Sookie Stackhouse series that became HBO's True Blood. I tried to read the Stackhouse books. I really did. But her writing is kind of crap. She's clearly more of an idea gal.
Midnight is a town in Texas where the veil between normal life and the supernatural is very thin so hijinx ensue. It's not deep or revelatory in any way, but it's fun. There are some kick ass women characters (particularly Olivia who is an assassin), handsome dudes who go shirtless on occasion, and Season One gets resolved in truly the most expedient way. I'd tell you but it would be a huge spoiler.
Oh, and did I mention there's a talking cat. A. Talking. Cat.
(My drink pairing for this series is probably a beer and a shot. Because Texas.)
My takeaways:
1. We all know I have a tin palette, so don't blame me if you feel like Midnight, Texas is just fluff. Cuz it is. Nothin' wrong with fluff.
2. I was sick during this party weekend and on Saturday I had a migraine of epic proportions. I'm no doctor or anything, but my remedy of DayQuil, SineOff, Excedrin Migraine and a gin and tonic worked WONDERS.
3. And because a few of us had colds, I renamed the band from Chill Factory X to Chill Factory Rx.
xoxo...hashtagSueslife
