Weekend Report:

I'm still recovering - I'm just not sure from what... I'm at a critical juncture in a large collateral project (68 page brochure). Final proofs were supposed to go to the client and then to prepress on Friday COB. Friday around 2:00, I'm set to output everything and whammo - my printer suffers an "extreme paper jam malfunction". Bastard. After 3 hours of dicking around with it I almost chucked the fucker out the window. I'd had it and as far as I was concerned it could lie there bleeding and writhing clicking ramming jamming while it died a slow and painful death. That's what you get for abandoning me in my time of need. I'm already behind because of last weeks unexpected trip back east.

Also on Friday our good friend Jennie arrived in the morning. She was in town for a "planning session" (cough cough) for her AIDS LifeCycle support crew. These guys (9 guys and Jennie - Leah is riding again this year) are amazing. The Roadies work so hard yet manage to keep not only themselves but also all of the riders cracking up, not to mention setting up and breaking down each rest stop, every day of the ride. Each rest stop is a different theme. For example, in the past they've done Hot Cops, Pilgrams, CowPokes, Ambiguously Gay Duo(s), and Hooters Girls among others. I forget - there are so many... So anyway - they all came to Palm Springs to "plan" this years themes. I mean let's be honest here - how many folks go on vacation to plan and scheme their volunteer drag outfits? Only this fabulous group from SF! I happen to know what a few of the themes are going to be this year but I've been sworn to secrecy. It's the rules.

Thus my conundrum on Friday: large project going completely FUBAR while big fun is in town. Hmm. What to do? Not much choice in the matter really - there was no way work was going to resolve itself until Saturday morning when Office Max opened up so that I could go whip out the Amex and buy a new printer. Let's have a cocktail!

Friday Night Report: Drinks and dinner at Hamburger Mary's (quickly becoming the new hangout). Despite being kicked off of our table prematurely as a favor to the owner, we had a great time. I was pawed heavily by an over the top perky hostess who had a thing for my suede jacket. Followed by the ever popular nightcap at Toucans. Before heading over to Toucans the missus decided wisely to head home but I was on the party train for the full ride. I'm not sure what time we left Toucans but I think Jennie and I were the last one's in our bunch still standing (or staggering as it were). I was then faced with yet another dilemma - cab it four long blocks home or walk? We walked. Given our state, I'm surprised we weren't stopped by the cops - you can get a ticket for that right? Drunk walking? And Jennie, bless her femme heart, made the whole walk in her killer fuck-me boots.

Saturday - Spent the whole day working after purchasing the aforementioned emergency replacement printer. Well, kind of working. I'm so used to plug and play with peripherals on my OS X mac that I was tearing my hair out after 3 hours of trying to get the damn thing to print anything from OS 9. HP is out to get me. They hate me. They are laughing at me! Bastards! Around 3:00 - finally, success. But it takes a while to print 68 pages in hi-res color. Unfortunately, I couldn't go anywhere because who knew what gremlins lurked inside. So I sat, and waited, and watched... Beyond boring. And it was a gorgeous day - 80 degrees, sunny. Sigh. I think I got 30 pages of the book printed before it was time for dinner.

Dinner at El Mirasol. Fantastic and packed as always. It being a 3 day weekend there were a lot of people in town. I ran into some folks I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to catch up. Many margaritas and side splitting laughter (try having dinner with 16 extroverted gay men on vacation and not die laughing) the boys wanted to go to Hunters. Hunters! The it spot for cruising half naked sweaty men, on a 3 day weekend. Not high on my list of destinations but given the company, it was sure to be fun regardless. Okay - just one drink.. 2 hours later we made or way home and I fell into bed completely exhausted. Stress, big mexican dinner, too much laughter and booze can do that to a girl.

Sunday was all work - all the time. I can't wait to get this project off my plate. I have demolition work to do! There are trains to be dealt with, unknown fluids to be irradiated, kitchen and baths that are begging for a sledge hammer! Let's get the show on the road! Sigh, but first - I need to make some money... Grrr. This grindstone is killing me!