Karaoke Night: A Review

REMEMBERING A BLAST OF AN EVENING

Posted By Ruby

Edited by RJ

Preface: I had a nice night given I went to come down off of a bad day. The night helped take the edge off my broken heart and bitter grief. My Uncle, WWII Veteran, Contractor, Master Carpenter and Co-Founder of the finest preschool in Queens, one of the finest in New York City died suddenly. Uncle Henry was 82. He was the last of eight brothers.

I had to let out the pain. Even though it was my Uncle that passed all I could do was think of my late wife. I needed to let go some pain, so I sang a couple of songs that night but hardly looked at the screen. I got a couple of hot young women who weren't gay to let me sing to them so I could concentrate on the words and hope to get these young women or those around them to feel what I was feeling.

Even though there were compliments I took it in stride realizing much liquor had passed over the bar. It helped some to sing a bit. There was much to see and laugh about. Nobody was mocked or ridiculed and many struggling singer got help from 'the crowd'. Many solo's became chorale events of the finest calibur. You should have been there no matter who you feared would be singing and drinking. So the following is from Robin sent to me in an e-mail edited for time and space.

RJ, I hope you had a good time Thursday (Karaoke) night. I sure as hell did. OMG!! Gary and Laurie were great and everyone was having so much fun that (I don't know when you left, you know, Tequila and all that) Elvin actually went for the extra hour and wants to do it at least once a month.

Oh, yeah, I never realized at previous Karaoke's that you can actually sing! I thought you were just a talker but you're second number was excellent. Actually, after everyone loosened up, they also sounded better (how drunk was I? I didn't feel that drunk).

I stayed until 4:00 a.m. and bar backed S.T. but people were still there at that time so I think I left. When I got home E.T. was getting ready for work so that wasn't great. I passed out when he left and woke up 8 hours later still drunk (I think). I got to work around 2:00 p.m. and when I opened the door it wasn't that bad for a circus tent. Amazing, I looked behind the bar and even though I helped S.T. clean up before I left there were beer bottles everywhere, glasses and crap stuck to everything.

Hangover in hand, feeling like a truck ran over me (every muscle in my body hurt, too much dancing maybe?) I started to clean up. Just when I was ready to give up, my friend A.D. came in and helped me. What an angel, he swept, mopped and brought out the cases I needed to restock. Without that help I think I would have died.

I am truly lucky to have people like this in my life, I'm used to being the person who is the pleaser and I am also not comfortable with others doing for me what I am responsible for. (OCD? or pride?, I have no idea) In closing (I'm so tired and I had to stay late for S.T. [who covered for Nikki] because S.T. was puking all day so I covered until 9:00) who is the "Belle of the Ball"?

Who can work all day, drink, bar back until 4 in the morning and then go back to work the next day and clean the mess, restock and still make out well in tips even though they are running on fumes? Tis' I!! Not to toot my own horn about being a party animal, but really, this late 20ish year old can't keep up with the pro's. I rest my case (lol).

I hope you had fun RJ, thanks for the drinks and I hope to see you soon!!

Love,

Ruby

Sultry Sunday: Return to Ecstasy

If Saturday was a terrible day, Sunday was totally wonderful. Though it started out slow with only a few of the regulars in attendance “R” (son of Father L) was in the house shooting pool.

Dorn the old 1st SGT was there and I bought a round for the four of us, Dorn, “R”, Yaega Lee and me.

After the Jets lost to the Giants the place started to fill up. It seemed that everybody came from everywhere. And the mood was really good , YL caught a little of that crowd toward the end of her shift.

Timmy showed up, then the Menhaters, Shelly showed up to take the night shift and then all kinds of regulars, semi-regulars and irregulars showed up. Every Jet fan in the immediate area was looking for some solace. The Met Fan was in chilling out too. “R”, Timmy and myself hijacked the jukebox and the place became live. It was as if everybody had energy, everybody was alive and the dive was jumpin.

I talked to Daria and let her know I wasn’t happy with ERL. Daria said “what….forget it, ERL was out of his fuckin mind”. She hugged me and went back to drinking. Candy, Zu, and Daria started to get loose and YL stayed on our side of the bar. SD showed up with his buddy’s not long after Limpin Pimp materialized inside the dive. Pimp contained himself like a caged animal in the smoking section while SD and his friends who are all still ‘on the job’ were socializing.

After SD left along with some of the old regulars the place got a little hotter as the younger crowd came in. Zu was dancing with everybody. Something in Zu’s life has changed. She shared much with me as she gently glided me from left to right (helping me nurse my ailement). Zu said she has got her life back again and she shows it. You can feel joy just standing next to her. I asked if anyone special was in her life. “Not yet, but good things are happenin” smiled Zu.

Then the women put on a 'dance' and lust show that got this place hopping. Amazing what old soul, classic rock and 70’s Pop will do for these women. Candy, Zu and Yaega Lee were dancing with the men of the old crew, me and YL, Candy and “R”, Timmy and Zu were movin and grooving. The youngsters were showing up because they know the night is theirs. Then it got downright hot.

The women started dancing with each other. (All the old crew, YL, Zu and Candy were dressed in black) Candy and YL got with each other and got to emoting through what I will call for the sake of this post, ‘dancing’.

I watched them get lost in each other as they moved most totally synchronistic. Eye to eye, chest to chest, hands wandering in unison, foot and hip motion calling all that is erotic…it was moving me from horny to mad.

All eyes were locked on them. Some poor nerd in a red striped shirt turned about 15 shades of blush as he sucked air through his gaping mouth.

The guys weren’t the only ones paying attention, young and old girls were giving the ‘what I could do with that’ stare as YL’ showed off a little crack as her pants started to slip.

Candy’s cleavage heaved with every breath as she and Yaega Lee touched and caressed to the sound of the beat…I needed another drink.

Zu’ danced with both Candy and YL to music that was at least as erotic but more provocative. Zu’ talked with her eyes as well as her body. Suggestive, sensuous and searing was her motion, I remember the dance…as Zu’ dropped to her knees in front of Candy and slowly elevated her head at Candy’s waist, Candy gave a super hot orgasmic gesture that sent me into fantasy. I was thinking things that could get me arrested in at least 30 states. I was glad I wasn’t the only one thinking that way, you could see it on every face in the dive.

When the music subsided the youngsters were at the front end of the bar and the old crew were at the back end of the bar. Zu’ got to the jukebox and found music that brought the groups together in a few sing-a-longs. Then as if on cue, Cary materialized like an apparition. He was coming from a gig in Westbury and he was sharp as usual. Candy and Cary got lost in conversation, recounting Kareoke memories. The Nerd trembled before Zu’ as he proposed marriage. (I can't belive no one told him, though everyone could see Zu's preferences)

The Pimp staggered out of the dive, he couldn’t get next to any woman in the place. (The Old Crew ran a lot if interference) Pimp was disillusioned, drunk and pissed. I hope he didn’t hurt anybody walking or driving. Timmy commented on what looked like a very erotic dance that Candy was doing for Cary. I really liked watching that too. Steam was coming from that super slick suit and it wasn’t from a dry cleaner.

Candy was trying to drag Zu’ out of the dive. Zu’ had to go to work in the morning and Candy had someplace to be. Candy’s mood turned from cool to cold when I saw her and Zu’ conversing semi privately. I had stayed out way past my bedtime and I really was starting to fade. I said my goodbye’s and hit the road, leaving the ladies locked in a semi heated conversation. What a hot night. Hope to see ya.

Love.

RJ