Cynically Optimistic

New Year's Eve has come and gone, ushering in 2006. But first, let's talk about how 2005 finished up, with Tom's visit to NYC. The last evening was spent in the trendy, yet chic Hudson Hotel. The smallness of the room required that the shower be placed near the foot of the bed, behind a clear glass wall, allowing anyone lying in bed to watch live shower porn. I was introduced to the meat packing district by eating at a restaurant cool French diner called Florent. Then we met up with Ed and hit bars on both the east and west side, finishing up my favorite way: Street Meat at 3 AM!!! If it's spicy, grilled, curried, or wrapped in a pita - I want it!!!

Day number 365 was spent wandering about the city while huge snowflake clusters fell around us. I did a bit more shopping (not buying) than usual. Somehow I was convinced to try on rubber pants, but resisted buying them. I couldn't resist buying some Vosge's Haut Chocolat. We attempted to have dinner at Katz's Deli, but they were closing early so we ended up at a place called Lucky Cheng's drag queen chinese food. The show was gut-bustingly funny, but the service was terrible. We counted down the New Year at Nowhere Bar, followed by Phoenix.

We had to fight for a taxi to take us back to George's apartment. Upon our arrival we quickly realized that the key we we given was the wrong one. It was karma paying me back for when I almost got my former roomate shot by the police (another story for another time). The doorman was unable to locate a spare key at the front, so I figured we'd either be sleeping in the stairwell or staying up all night in a diner. Lucky for us, some girl from apartment 3S invited us back to her apartment to, "party, drink some champagne, smoke some pot, and sleep on the floor." We didn't have to take her up on that offer, as my phone rang and George let us in. PHEW!

New Year's Day we got some fresh bagels and cream cheese for breakfast, then walked through Central Park en route to the train station. We said our goodbye's and back on various trains, we all went home. It was a wonderful New Years, thanks to George; and extra-memorable thanks to Tom.

Here's to an extra-random 2006!