8:54 AM, Jan 14, 2006 
Missed the Bus
As I was just starting to recover fully from the misdeeds of Thursday night, I discussed the impending Friday with Heidi, and learned that Amy and Kynha would be coming out tonight, along with a friend of Heidi's named Emily. The plan Heidi and I hatched was to convene at the corner of Nichols and Jefferson, where the schedule for the 51 bus lines night service is very ambiguously cited as the southern terminus, to take a bus all the way to the far reaches of Westport, a whopping mile away.
I arrived about fifteen or twenty minutes early, and started looking around for the distinctive bus stop markings somewhere on the corner. There were none. There were signs kinda sorta nearby, for the 39 and 47 lines. We were in a bit of a pickle, as there was no clear course to take. So, without knowing where exactly to stand, I suggested we just stand at the corner listed on the ATA's webpage, and wait for the bus to come to us.
About one or two minutes late, the bus rolled by us, on the other side of the street, well out of range for us to be able to catch it, stopped briefly as an afterthought, at the 39/47 stop, which is not the corner of Nichols and Jefferson, and rolled away, out of sight. The women were shouting at me to go flag it down, as if it would turn around and come get us. I just smiled, knowing that it was a lost cause. We wound up just driving to Westport in Amy's car, left it in a lot somewhere, and took a cab home.
Our first stop was a new place called Karma, which occupies the space formerly held by local radio shock-jock Johnny Dare's bar, and before that, the semi-venerable Stanford and Sons comedy club. Before that, it was probably a bail bonds place or something. What it is now is basically an overpriced scene bar, with attractive clientele, good music, and excellent heating. I got eye from a couple of girls smoking Dunhills at the bar, while I settled by tab with the bartender. I have seen both bartenders behind multiple bars around midtown, as well.
We left there after a couple of hours, and went over to the Hurricane to see someone's roommate play drums in their band. I settled nicely into the $3 24-oz PBR draws, and everyone circulated. Without really noticing, the music stopped, and the crowd largely dispersed. I talked with Carrie, who had been there for hours, for a little while, until my bladder was fit to burst. I announced that I needed to use the restroom, and she promptly collected her things and left. I don't know.
I found Heidi talking with some friends who had asked her to come by, that night. Amy and Kynha were talking to a couple of drag queens. Not wanting to interrupt Heidi, I struck up a conversation with the brown-haired queen(the other, talking with Amy, had pink hair), and was relieved to see that both Amy and Kynha had rejoined Heidi, so we spent the remainder of the evening out talking in a circle, and walking like Egyptians. We grabbed a cab, and all went to Amy's house for Jimmy John's and sleep. Amy's hospitality saved me about $13 in cab fare, so I was only too happy to hang out until it wasn't reasonable anymore.
I was roused by Heidi's tumblings, at about 8:30. She had to go to work, and I was unable to really get back to sleep after that. I got up and went to the bathroom, and when I got out, Amy was clinking around in the kitchen, and offered me an iced water. I accepted, and we talked while I located my shoes and set about securing them to my feet. I had intended to leave a thank you note, but as my host was looking right at me, I just thanked her in person, and wandered off. I caught the next MAX home, made myself a meager nutritious breakfast of bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, and stripped to my customary bedclothes(my underpants), and crashed for about three more hours.
It was a very nice evening, though. Nobody got drunk, and everybody looked out for each other.
/// EDIT ///
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