It's Probably Me

I pulled a classic double booking tonight. I met up with my friend Brent and his girlfriend Katie at Seablue for drinks around 6ish. I thought they had tickets for KA tonight so I was planning on maybe 45 minutes with them. Turns out they're going to see KA tomorrow night so we spent a couple hours catching up. It was so fun to hear stories and get to know Katie. Great girl. Smart. They're one of those sickeningly beautiful couples we all love to hate. Problem is, you can't hate them because they're so fun.

By the time 8.30p rolled around I was famished so I said goodbye to the adorable couple and headed back into Seablue for dinner. I shot M an email to see if he wanted to join me. I was pleasantly surprised he was able to sneak away for a bite. These dinners & chats in my office have become comforting & comfortable to me. I missed them when I was away over the weekend. Dangerous stuff. I know I shouldn't play with fire but I can't help myself. He's just one of those people you want to be around. I've only got him for 2 more days so hopefully we can spend at least more dinner up at my Happy Place again. If you see an Asian girl with long black hair and a smile on her face at the end of the bar by the well at Seablue It's Probably Me. Pop over and say hi. 

Venice

I was so close to purchasing a ticket to Botti's Friday, May 27th Chukchansi show this morning... but I didn't. That's UFC 130 weekend and 'technically' I should be at the Grand Garden for the weigh in, fight club Q&A and autograph session. Truth is there isn't much I can't solve via my CrackBerry and my team could run it without me; the Grand Garden does UFC a lot. But to give DQ peace of mind, I'm staying put in Vegas. 

I'll offset my disappointment that weekend by passive-aggressively blasting Botti in my office, wearing my iShuffle when I'm out in the arena & hitting my Happy Place @seablueLV. Speaking of Seablue, my friend Melissa, the sommelier there just told me she's leaving in about a month. She and her boyfriend are moving to Italy. I didn't know this but apparently she specializes in Italian wines so it makes sense. I admire her courage to pick up and go. I asked her, "Why are you leaving?" Her response matter-of-factly, "Why not." Love that about her. I hope to visit her one day. Venice sounds great in the fall. 

But For Now

I met him one night at Seablue. Of course. It's my Happy Place. We sat on the corner of the bar. I remember leaning into him, a comfortable familiarity, a closeness. My heart was beating so fast; his smile was calm, reassuring. He's goofy sometimes but mostly sincere and intentional with hints of boyish charm. So many things I want to know about him But For Now the idea of him will be enough. Nothing more seems important somehow.

I've Got You Under My Skin

It's Friday night with no events in the Grand Garden this weekend so I'm taking advantage of some down time. Just me & George Bennett watching Dateline with my MacBook Air on my lap catching up on some work.

My home phone rings around 9.30p but I don't answer it. I never do. There are only a handful of people who have that number and all of them know better. About 20 minutes later my cel rings and it's the lawyer or 'Counselor' as I like to refer to him. I was once in an uncontrollable, ridiculous, torturous, maddening, outrageous, delicious love affair with him. When it ended I knew I'd recover but I would never be the same, never approach love with that kind of reckless abandon and lack of judgement. Diving in head first may be for some people but I learned the hard way it's not for me. I'm far to calculated, guarded and (sigh) fragile.

I haven't really spoken to him in years and then out of the blue - poof - there he is. He was calling from my happy place, a great restaurant called Seablue. (I used to joke that my friend Leslie and I were like the Norm and Cliff of Seablue. You could always find us at the end of the bar by the well on any given night after work. In our defense it is just steps away from our offices at the arena.) While I think of it as MY favorite place on earth, Counselor and I did have some great times there too: me a cucumber martini, him a Beefeater Gibson straight up. He said he begged the bartender to give up my cel number. Note to self: Kill Bill.

The conversation was short and sweet. One of those, "I was just thinking about you" calls. He asked me out to dinner tomorrow. He knows I love sushi; I said yes. I probably shouldn't have but I do miss my friend. And let's be honest, I've Got You Under My Skin Counselor. I always have. I'm just not sure it's the same anymore. Two years ago, hell one year ago I would have given a lung for him to call. Now all I can think about is why wasn't it M who called instead.