Review of The Singing Detective (2003) by Steve M — 09 Jun 2004

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Sorry Pink Floyd fans the title of this entry has no connection to the album or movie of the same name. If you dont know what I am talking about, just go away. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]So if you read the previous entry you know that I have a lot going on and I am basically deciding my future. I know I told a lot of you that October 2004 would be my return to the "lower 48" but its looking more and more like October 2005 will be closer. I was led to believe today that I have a good shot at the new job at the hotel. And in any event, I still have my current job with the sweet promotion coming to me by month's end. So whats a guy to do? Well this guy is probably going to just stay in alaska and get really nostalgic about the past and remain hopeful for the future. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]The wall of the title is my bedroom wall. I decided to decorate last week. I have become one of those people who plaster remnants of their lives all over their walls. Each holds at least a dozen memories. Heres an overview[/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]my bandanna from the SOA Protest 11/00 - my god, it is one of the dumbest things I have ever done.....I actually faked strong belief in a cause just to get a free trip (by van) from NY to Georgia and miss 2 days of classes. The bad part was how me and Rory didnt tell our other roommate Charlie that we were leaving and he thought we had disappeared and called Rory's family and IMed a few of my friends. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]tickets from 2 Bon Jovi shows, 2 Tragically Hip shows, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Kevin Smith and the Great Alaska Shootout (basketball tourney). Bon Jovi reminded me why I have always wanted to be a rock star, The Hip reminded me that drinking has its consequences (smashed-up face, disgusting projectile vomiting, near molestation) and I thank god that none of that happened to me. Rock Hall was kickass and would have been better if I had had more than one day and had not been so hung over thanks to that Irish pub that Drew found.[/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Theres my Vive Cuervo bead necklace from Cinco De Mayo this year, the night that one of Kyle's friends was telling us about how hes going for his black belt and how I said, for no apparent reason, "Karate guys are always such pussies." [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]There's postcards from places I have caused trouble like NYC, Chicago, and Saranac Lake. I remember the time in NYC when this guy on the street tried to shine my shoes when we all were running wild in the streets, and I tried to walk away but he shined a shoe while I stopped at an intersection to wait for the light to change. So I ran off and ended up with one shined shoe and one unshined. For one night, the big joke was everyone telling me "Steve! Your shoe looks great!" Hotel majors can be such pricks. Or how about the night we got drunk in the hotel and me and Vince wanted to rent Oceans 11 on pay per view but ended up watching Dr. Dolittle 2 on HBO instead. And it was excellent. Or how about the time in Saranac Lake when me and Sean refused to wait for the bathroom at Tail O'The Pup and violated The Fence. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Then theres a clipping from the Travel and Tourism newspaper at Niagara with the headline "Students Get On Board With Carnival Cruise Course." I am not sure why I put it up when the trip was such shite. Maybe it was a reminder that what doesnt kill you makes you stronger. And here's to Bud Bullard!!![/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Then theres a piece of Riveredge stationery. I barely even remember working there at this point. I remember all the condescension and how I used it to my advantage by letting them treat me like a child so I wouldnt have to do any work. I remember how much of a joke the managers there were. I would LOVE to see what the management staff of the Millennium Alaskan could do with a great 4-diamond property like the Riveredge. Theres the envelope that my bill was given to my in at the Millennium U.N. Plaza. Now that was a night. Shots of 151 masquerading as Old Granddad. Hanging out with Andy and his friends and not feeling disturbed. Making a $300 suite at the hotel smell like a filthy bar by morning. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Then on the opposite wall there are pictures illustrating some of the events. I need to change it around a little because there is a picture of Dorothee, the unbelievably hot German girl from last summer, and that is the first picture anybody notices....and then next to it is a pic of me from last summer, fat and happy. My face looks so pudgy, you'd think I was storing acorns in there. I think Steve in Summer 2003 is going to end up having 20lbs on Summer 2004 Steve. I dont really pay attention to my weight since I dont own a scale, but I can eyeball it. Lets not even go into Summer 2002 Steve. That guy was fuckin emaciated. Summer 2003 Steve looked like he ATE Summer 2002 Steve. Thank you, mononucleosis. Theres a pic of me from the night me, Shoe, Dan and two of Shoe's friends went out in The Bay. That was the night before I reported to camp for Summer 2002. My face is gaunt and I look sickly....and wasted. That was (one of) the night(s) I fell down the stairs going to my bed. Thank the Lord that my parents carpeted those stairs. I think that was also the night I wanted to take a shortcut to the car....through a shallow section of the St. Lawrence.....and Dan was the only one not laughing too hard to walk over and retrieve me before I went out to sea. Good times.[/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]So yeah this walk down memory lane has been brought to you by my melancholy feeling of nostalgia for the way things were and how they will never be again. But you really cannot go home again, evidenced by my November 2003 trip back to Barely where I found the fun half of it closed off and a 60 year old woman behind the counter and all my old friends gone. Nobody even broke anything!!! Shitty time that got saved by good company. [/size][/font].

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[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Not that life sucks right now, but what has been will always seem better than what is. Unless youre in like an airplane crash, and you remember using that, like, oxygen mask and going into the water and swimming with your seat cushion and then, like, you drop your cushion and try to borrow somebody's but they're like "NO! Where's yours?" and youre like "Huh....Huh.....Huh...."[/size][/font].

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]That last random thought was brought to you by my Nate Impression.[/size][/font].