Monday, June 30, 2008

Memory Loss Is Made Of These...

John Lennon had his "lost weekend," and now I've had mine!

Well, not quite, but after all the times I've been told to "get lost," this occasional brought me close!

A tolerable time was had by most at "Aaron's Big One," my first annual birthday bash, on Friday night at The Spot in Uptown. Lots of folks had scheduling conflicts, or had to come late, but since my drinks were on the house until 10:00, if you weren't there, I probably imagined you were. So cheers!

Here are a few photo highlights from the evening (courtesy of David Cerda, who had the camera):

Aaron & Cheryl

Me with my friend Cheryl Snodgrass, who, besides being a partner in The Spot, is also a supertalented actress and director, who most recently directed "Die! Mommie Die!" for Hell in a Handbag at the Bailiwick. She was first seen by Handbag audiences in 2006's "Caged Dames" as Bigger Lorraine Delvecchio, and showed off her marvelous pipes again as eccentric ornithologist Mrs. Bundy in 2007's "The Birds."


Davy Derek Ed Stephen

L. to R.: Stephen Rader, Derek Czaplewski, David Cerda (a/k/a Davy Joans) and Ed Jones (a/k/a Ed Joans as Carol Ann). David and Ed had just come from seeing Blondie at Lincoln Park Zoo (where it's reported they've taken up residence next to the McCormick Meerkat Enclosure) and, alas, were apparently unsucessful in dragging Debbie Harry to the party. Unless she was the one dancing on the bar. But no, I think that was a lawyer...


Davy Ed Brian BonD

Brian, Cheryl's business partner, who kindly kept us supplied with chicken strips and mini tacos during our revelries, mugs in behind David and Ed. Sorry bois, he's straight AND married...


Aaron Coldcocked

The moment I know all of you have waited for--and the opportunity you've all dreamed of! Don't tell me you haven't! I didn't feel a thing the next day...

David captured photos of the bar-dancing lawyer, but I won't subject you to those. I was quite frightened that she would step on my drink! And then sue me for getting her shoes wet...

Besides those picture above, we also had Gary Airedale of the Flesh Hungry Dog Show, fellow handbagger Annie and her boyfriend Jarod, Richard "Madge Weinstein" Bluestein, and Steve Hickson of A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Co. and his boyfriend Paul.

Despite the "no presents" edict, I did get a few treasures from my well-wishers: a DVD datadisc of music from Gary and a copy of David Sedaris' new book "When You Are Engulfed In Flames" from Stephen. (Thanks again, Stephen! So far, I love it...his story about what he got from the second-hand trousers was particularly entertaining.)

Thanks to all for your well wishes...I'm looking forward to a good decade (hell, it can't be any worse than the LAST one ;-)), and am grateful for all the Omega oil which has kept me from looking as old as my five years of heavy alcohol consumption dictates that I should by now...

******************************

The Joans head into the studio on Sunday, July 6 to begin recording their debut CD. I'm excited...

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like a blast! Happy Belated!

2:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You've never looked better. I didn't realize Ed Jones was such a fox. Is there a story there? Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a flying; and this same flower that smiles today tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, the higher he's a getting, the sooner will his race be run, and nearer he's to setting.
The age is best which is the first, when youth and blood are warmer, but being spent the worst and worst times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time, and while ye may go party; for having lost but once your prime, you may be forever sorry. (with apologies to author Robert Herrick) Ed

2:41 PM  
Blogger Aaron said...

Thanks Gregory! I hope you had a fun Pride Day, too!

That's a poem I've never read before, Ed. Except I think the dew is off THIS rosebud...I'm dried out and ready for pressing between the pages of a book now! :-)

"I didn't realize Ed Jones was such a fox"

That's because whenever you've seen his picture, he's been in Carol Ann drag. Or Lana Turner drag. Or Cher drag. You see the pattern? We seldom see Ed in his street clothes, and don't realize that he is a very nice-looking man.

"Is there a story there?"

Oh there are dozens...but since I have to see him at every Joans rehearsal, I'd better pick one that doesn't TOTALLY embarrass him...

Oh, boy. This will be a challenge. Hmmm...:-)

Well, there was the time I drove him home after a "Caged Dames" performance (we'd stopped off with the others for libations on the way--several libations, although I had less because I was driving). It was the end of October, and Cubs fans and other sundry idiots were swarming out of bars into the middle of Clark Street--IN Halloween costumes. With no regard for vehicles attempting to pass. Ed leaned out the window (remember, there had been many libations) and yelled "Get out of the way, whores!"

Fun times...fun times indeed.

4:03 PM  
Blogger Stephen R. said...

Glad you had a blast and that you're enjoying the book!! Happy birthday!!

5:04 PM  
Blogger Aaron said...

Thanks Stephen!

5:46 PM  
Blogger David said...

Omigod, someone thinks Ed Jones is a fox. Let's get them two hitched!

11:23 AM  

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