band practice and Private Men...

Lunch with D & CC in the city, and a quick chat with Ryland - who quotes my own voice on Rob Hitt's voicemail back at me - then over to rehearsal space on West 30th, as I have the leads and pedals that the band need. I run into Ryan in the elevator, we head up and pick up the guitars then go to their rehearsal room where we find Rachel, and soon Andrew joins us. Ben comes, complete with Garth Brooks-esque hat, and they start on a song while waiting for Alex. They sound good. I can't stay too long, although I want to see Alex, but I have to leave in the end before he's arrived, so I take off, am briefly distracted by H&M, then it's back to Brooklyn, and another quick visit to the Carroll Gdns AA. I hang out there for a while, talking Halloween with the girlies - who are going as the Golden Girls and have two hilarious wigs with them, bought that morning at Ricky's.

I meet them later at 8, after the store has closed and we head back to the Burg, where Lauren and Sarah change, I down a cup of tea, then we head into the city. Walking down Third I see Ronnie and friend limping into some restaurant so I follow them in to say hello, then we carry on down to our pre-game rendezvous at Cooper 35. They have a four dollar drinks menu, various cocktails etc. I get a mojito and when it turns up, it's pretty much just rum and a bit of sugar. Incredibly strong. A few sips in the IS calls me and we chat, making plans to hang on Saturday at the big party.

We walk up to PMC at Black & White. Jonny's back for a week from touring with... Motley Crue? Shit, now I can't remember. It's so good to see everyone. Rob walks in with a big "Welcome home!" and there's Omri, and as I'm in the middle of getting my phone's predictive text messaging to recognise 'MCR' [MAP? MAR? NAP? OAR?], I'm tapped on the shoulder and turn to see Sarah, brandishing a bag with a Union Jack print on side "in your honour!" [lol] and Gurj, fresh from the MCR concert a block away. Big hugs and happiness. Around midnight I suddenly start flagging - still a wee bit jetlagged - so me, D and Brett take off, walk down 3rd a few blocks until we cave and grab a cab back, and I'm tired and tipsy but happy that today I've managed to see or speak to almost everyone I wanted to in NY and there's only a special few left to see and I can't wait.

Yeah! New York

An uneventful flight, quick passage through immigration and customs, and a cab ride down to Carroll Gardens, where even the shitty BQE made me smile and feel almost nostalgic. After shedding baggage, we walk around, to the bank and to the downtown Target for supplies [of which candycorn and Spiderman gloves are an important part] and fresh air and a stretching of the legs.

We come back and I sit down and check some emails while D. gives me a fashion parade - he's off to a fancy gala at the Whitney that evening, dontcha know [and let's not forget the pre-drinks at the Carlyle...] - then I feel like I could easily fall asleep so wander up to Smith St and down to the American Apparel where Lauren and Sarah H work. I LOVE living so close to where they work. When I go in they're both downstairs so someone goes to get them while I stare spacily out the window until I'm grabbed in a hug by Lauren... and suddenly it's like I only saw them both yesterday, not six months ago. We chatter until they have to get back to work, then I head back to get chinese takeout and half watch The Avengers on BBC America. I try to nap on the sofa as I'm meant to be heading to the Litt'lans/Kooks party at Double Happiness that night, but I can't quite doze off. Mr Fancy Pants leaves for his partay, and I turn the tv on, feeling crappy - overtired and headcoldy - and eventually come the decision that I can't quite face going out that night, so bail on and suddenly feel happier. The air mattress is inflated, there's candycorn to nibble at and Disney movies on tv. I do some work and go to bed at 10, an inauspicious first day back...