NYC

Was a whirlwind. I went out to help Gabi with leaving the city (she's moving to Korea).Wednesday: 5am wake-up. Detroit to LGA. Taxi to Gabi's apartment. Lunch w/Nikki & Gabi at the Garden Grill. Back to Gabi's to sort through clothes for the Salvation Army. Rain & lightning. Then, briefly bar-hopping our way to Gabi's reading: Hare Field Inn, Walter Foods, Clem's. Giant umbrella. Taxi to Manhattan to Home Sweet Home. Gabi gave her last poetry reading ever (so she says) & surprised me by reading a collaborative poem we had written together years ago. JodiAnn Stevenson gave her first ever NYC reading & will be reading again later this month at Goodbye Blue Monday. Saw Steve Roberts, Steve Caratzas, & Nathan Austin. Post-reading: back to Brooklyn. Union Pool for the Saviours show. Giving away our umbrellas. El Diablo taco truck (absolutely delicious). Back to Gabi's, exhausted.

Thursday: Morning coffee & bagel run. Cleaning & packing. Hauling things to Salvation Army & the shipping store. Sushi for lunch. Getting ready for Gabi's going away party. Two bottles of champagne at Nikki's. Dinner in the backyard at Walter Foods. Then to the Richardson for drinks. Saw Arlo & Christa Quint, Dustin Williamson, John Colleti, & Dan Hoy. Lots of Morrissey. Closed down the bar.

Friday: Morning coffee & bagel run. Then cleaning supplies run. Final day in NYC for Gabi. Throwing out a lot of stuff, giving things away, cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning. (Even after showering, I could still smell bleach on my arms.) Late lunch break at Yola's. Running errands. Pouring rain. Then, drinks with Dan Magers at Union Pool. Meeting Nikki, Sarah, and Julianna at the Alligator Lounge. Stopping by Gabi's one last time. Saying goodbye.

NYC is always the same. There are new businesses opening and old businesses close, but that is the norm so it doesn't really matter if you were gone one week or one year. Even Coletti said, "Everything's the same here." But I had a good time; it was great to see everyone, and I was glad to see Gabi off.