AZ’s “DIARY OF A DAMNED MAN”

sunrise at the harbor

It’s Thursday night, no burlesque for AZ till next week when Penny Starr Jr. is performing at Blue Bayou. My next update may not be till Monday as it looks like I’ll be very busy with limited access to a PC though I do have the means to update remotely, I may not have the chance. The most important thing right now is that my friends wedding will be the wedding of the year. It has all the fixings and the forcast is to be 85 and sunny.

 My train ride shall take me to a well needed escape. It’s been a weird week and a lot of time spent outside. Well deserved and long awaited time outside.

When I return it will be August, and Hot August Nights. Next weekend I’m at Newbombs and the following week, Too Dark is here for 6 days. August is poised to be very busy and ends w/ a Motorhead show.

 I wonder if when I do come home if Michael Jackson will still be the top story on CNN and Fox News as it has been every night for 5 weeks or more now? They’ve compared him to Elvis. What a fucking insult.

Talk to all of you when I get back. Have a great, happy, fun and safe weekend. - az

In 48 hours I’ll be pushing 2 hours into a 5 hour Amtrak trip to Indianapolis for CC’s wedding. I’d say I was excited, but I’m certain that will be evident as I post the details when I return on Monday. If I’ve ever prayed I pray now that this weather will hold out for them since it is planned to be an outdoor affair.

While I was at Oak Street Beach this morning Creepy called and he spoke of the horrendous humidity in the region. The weather in Indy is still as rotten as the first part of our Chicago summer has been. Today in Chicago it couldn’t have been more perfect. Everything about the beach, the water, the sunny skies and the views at the downtown beach eclipsed everything about the few hours I spent yesterday at Montrose Beach. Tomorrow morning I’ll be back at Oak Street if the weather holds up.

Today I am very brown, and also fairly exhausted from pushing myself to biking a lot yesterday and today. After I came home I biked west to pick up some supplies for my train ride. My greatest challenge will be reading materials interesting enough to hold my attention for 5 hours. My arrival time is just before midnight, I’m staying at Creepy’s then going to the wedding the following afternoon. Sunday night Dave Brown has invited me to the Melody Inn for COCOANUT GROVE LOUNGE NIGHT. I haven’t been their since hosting the Creatures of Crystal Lake Tour 2 years back. Obviously I’m excited to see old friends. Between the wedding, the Melody and getting to eat Rally’s, I can’t think of much more I could ask for. Other than not to miss my train home at 530 AM on Monday.

For now I’ll sign off.

(I was prepared to write about a murder/suicide that happened to a couple I was very close to for many years, that happened last weekend. Their daughter who I had graduated with attempted to OD after that afforementioned event w/ her parents. I’ve dwelled on it enough, and as I’ve mentioned a few months ago am changing the tone of this section. So if I’ve been a little distant this past week and not quite myself, having to deal with this alone should explain it well enough, but I am still in shock and saddened: www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=63472 Seems like everytime I find happiness I’m surrounded by death)

My haus is covered in sand. There is still sand on my body and in my hair and ears from 3 afternoons at Montrose Harbor Beach w/ my friend Mike. Jeff and barbarella joined us later. I guess there are more pix that should prove to be quite hilarious.

 Finally at the end of July summer is here and I hope the weather stays warm a bit longer. All four of my plants are starting to shows signs of life.

I actually fell asleep w/ one foot up in the air

YES it is

That’s Barb a cool friend of Morgan’s and so far a pretty nice person

Bree the hottest hooiser

In order to make up for an overall unexciting and rather lackluster 2009, the gods have opted to give me a vast array of visits, and events to keep me back in the groove.

This weekend my good friend Mike Blackley makes his second visit of 2009 to Chicago. We are both excited about it. If you didn’t know or didn’t read about it last April, Mike and I have been very good friends since 1995 when I first moved to Indianapolis. I just happened to drop into an Applebee’s while my cowboy boots were getting re-soled at a local cobbler. I gave up a seat at the bar so he and his wife at the time could sit together. The move resulted in a friendship based on a mutual love of the same music, going on roundtrips to see shows, hang backstage, water-skiing / boating and of course, drink. He’s a kindred spirit and the guy is always a welcome sight.

The following week it’s off to Indianapolis for a wedding between another long time friend since 1995, a fellow writer, an author of 2 books and an MK collaborator, a guy despite his moves and mine have always remained very close, Christopher Curry will wed his life love and suitable companion if I may say, on Aug 1 for a Polynesian themed wedding, complete with Hawaiian cuisine, drinks and Tiki galore.