I woke up at 9:00am, spoke to Eric, and then started packing. I watched DANCING WITH THE STARS (I haven’t yet watched the elimination show, but I heard it was Denise). Then, I watched the finale of RuPAUL’S DRAG RACE. I was so happy Bebe had won (I had already heard that, too!). After that I went out for a while. Eric had gotten a post office box for us in Whitestone and I wanted to change my address, but I wasn’t able to do it online, so I got dressed and drove to the post office (stopping at Starbucks first, of course!).
The guy told me that the post office box wasn’t yet in the system, which was why I couldn’t do it online, so I just have to wait a few days and try again. It’s always something, isn’t it?
I came back to the apartment and continued packing. I got a lot done today, but it seems the more I pack the more I find. I still have SO much that needs to be boxed up. I’m not yet out of boxes, but it doesn’t look good. What happens when I run out and no one has anymore? I’ll end up buying them at STAPLES, which to me is just a huge waste of money. What about recycling – reducing – reusing?
I took another shower and got dressed at around 6:00pm and left the apartment a few minutes before 7:00pm to pick up Marti, who lives just 1.5 miles away. We went to an Italian place on Balboa called GIOVANNI’S because I had a coupon for one free spaghetti meal when you purchased one spaghetti meal. Marti and I are into economizing and having fun on a budget. Since Karoke is free (you just throw the KJ a few bucks and maybe buy one drink), it was going to be a cheap night. Just my style!
I got penne with tomato sauce with mushrooms. Marti got spaghetti with meat sauce. We each got an iced tea. Each dish came with two pieces of toasted garlic bread. The check was $16 and change. We left $11 each. Not bad for a delicious meal!
It was only 8:00pm and since Karaoke doesn’t start until 9:00pm, I convinced Marti to go to Starbucks with me (not my usual place, but very close by). We went inside and I got a tall (which is the smallest size) Mocha. We talked and I drank and then we went to the bar.
It was pretty empty when we got there, but Nicole the KJ was there. She was happy to see us! We looked at the song lists and put in our requests. It was a lot quieter than Friday night, but there were still a LOT of people singing. Our friend from last time, Tony, came by. He’s such a nice guy. He’s a great singer, too.
I sang DIFFERENT DRUM (originally performed by Linda Ronstadt, but written by Mike Nesmith (of the Monkees!). I also sang LET’S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT by Bonnie Raitt, and Marti and I did a duet of TIME AFTER TIME by Cindy Lauper.
Marti is amazing with harmonies. She likes to sing along with every performer, singing perfect harmony. She’s got a gorgeous voice, and should always be singing lead, but she prefers backup harmonies!
She sang I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME, by Bonnie Raitt, and did a duet with Tony – YOU DON’T BRING ME FLOWERS (Streisand/Diamond). She also sang another few songs, but I can’t remember now (and I only had one drink!). Marti bought me a Greyhound, which is vodka and grapefruit juice It was sweet and went down real easy!
There were a lot of good singers tonight, and some not-so-good singers, but they’re all very entertaining. They sing the songs you hear on the radio today, and songs from 40 or 50 years ago. It’s all fun!
There was a young guy named Manny who had a very high voice. He sang the song from TITANIC (My Heart Will Go On?). It sounded okay, but it was just such a weird song for a guy to sing and it was a little too high at the end when it modulates. I thought of a song I thought would be great for him and I looked it up in the book – DUST IN THE WIND, by Kansas. I asked him about it, but he never heard of it, so I told him I’d sing it with him.
He was such a quick learner and picked it up so fast that by the second verse he was singing along perfectly. He really sounded great and he loved it! I told him to keep singing that, because it was a much better song for him. I told Nicole (the KJ) that I should be a producer. She said, “I think you should be a Karaoke Hostess!
I actually WAS a Karaoke Hostess – a long time ago – for one night only. I don’t even remember how I got the gig, but it was downtown, near Wall Street. They didn’t start until 8:00pm, so I didn’t have enough time to go home and come back, but I had to kill 3 hours from the time I finished work until the time I started working at the bar. There was a guy who “ran the show” and my gig was to get the people singing (and drinking) and take their song requests.
I remember it was REALLY smoky (this is before the smoking ban in NY bars) and it was killing me, because of my allergies and asthma. I sang a few songs, which was fun, but mostly it was about talking to people over the music (which was hard on my voice), breathing in the smoke, and getting people to sing and buy drinks. At the end of the night Eric came to pick me up. I think they paid me $40 for the night. Eric and I were both hungry, so we went someplace and I think it cost us the entire $40 for dinner, and we got home late and both had to work the next day, so I decided it was not going to be a big career move for me and I told the guy I couldn’t do it anymore. And that was the beginning and end of my big Karaoke career!
So, anyway, tonight we listened, performed, clapped, sang harmony, and supported everyone until midnight and then I had had enough. Marti got an offer from Tony to drive her home and even though SHE had work tomorrow and I am unemployed, I left and she stayed! I came home, got undressed and started blogging. I had to throw all my clothes in the hamper, because they smelled of smoke, even though there’s no smoking in the bar. The “enclosed patio” is right through a door that is 5 feet from the karaoke area, and since everyone stands right outside the door to smoke, the smoke comes right back in and it really bothered me.
Nicole asked us to come back next Wednesday. I know Marti really wants to go back, and I guess I can deal with it one more time before I head back to NY. She’s a lot of fun, and really sweet, and it WAS a fun night. I just wish there was no smoking!!
It’s now after 1:00pm and I know I’m going to be up late, because I always need to watch some TV and unwind before I can fall asleep. I don’t have any plans tomorrow, except more packing, so I guess it’s okay. I had a great night and I want to make as many San Diego memories as I can before I head back to NYC!