Detroit, 2000
Casper, Siobhan, Olimpia and I decided to go to Detroit this weekend, no real
reason but me having promised Art and Mac that I'd come and visit in
January.
Fri Jan 14, 2000
I had a meeting at 2 that went to 3:30, so I rushed home and tried to call
Etienne to see when he would be ready for me to pick him up. Three tries,
no answer, but I decided to stop by his place on my way to pick up Siobhan
just in case. He had just woken up and promised to be ready by the time I
came back after picking up Olimpia. I picked up Siobhan from her work at
around 5, as promised, but got caught in traffic trying to get over to
Olimpia's work. We were stopped a few buildings before hers and Siobhan
jumped out and fetched her, and I made a quick turn and headed back to
pick up Etienne. He was actually ready this time, but the traffic was slow
going up the 427. We got up to the 401 eventually, and stopped to get
food and coffee at a service centre. We ate inside and double checked the
map, but we made it to the border crossing at Sarnia okay. There, they
pulled us over to issue a pass but it was quick, at least.
It was later than we'd said we'd arrive, so we headed straight for Gotham
City Cafe to see the band that was the first order of the evening. I
stopped for gas just over the border, resisting the urge to run over
Casper as he popped out for a smoke, well away from the pumps. I found the
cafe and found parking right across the street from it, and we trooped in.
I spotted Mac and Art at the back and we picked our way over the crowd
sitting on the floor listening to the band. The music was a jam session
between members of various local industrial and noise bands and I enjoyed
it, but since I was about the only one we left after a little while for
City Club. We popped into the Lab first, but they were playing annoying
techno music so we went upstairs. They really do have the most intrusive
security drones I've ever seen, even worse than the woman who patted me
down at Heathrow! Oddly enough, they weren't all that thorough, since both
Sio and myself were able to get our Swiss Army knives past them. *shrug* I
avoided the coat check, dropping my coat on one of the benches lining the
big two story dance area. I danced a lot. I hurt myself I danced so much.
It was bloody loud, but I put in my ear plugs and just lost myself
in the music. I saw Etienne dance for the first time ever, Art lent him US
cash to drink with since the three bank machines that we tried were all
broken. We left around 3 or 4 am and made it to Art's. We voted to stay
another night for the bbq the next day, we had sort of wanted to go back
to Toronto to hang out with friends there, but it was late, and more fun
was to be had the next day. I blew up the air mattress I'd brought with me,
but for some reason the air in it refused to warm up at all, and I spent
most of the night shivering. Krista had come back with us to Art's so that
she didn't have to drive the 3 hours home and could stay for the party the
next day also.
Sat Jan 15, 2000
Krista bounced us awake at 10:30am or so. Etienne never forgave her. They
were smoking a fair amount in the kitchen, so I kept stepping out to get
fresh air so I could continue breathing. We went shopping for food to
cook, Olimpia gave me money to get us stuff to share, but Siobhan and Jeff
came along with Art and myself to the store. I picked up some
chicken, salad and a marinade sauce. We were back at Art's well before the
official start time, so we watched videos, waited, and became
progressively more hungry. I set the chicken to marinate and cut
vegetables and made dip with Siobhan to keep my mind off food, though
granted, we did end up eating most of the cherry tomatoes before they ended
up in the presentation plate. :) Mac and Sarah showed up, the latter in a
very nice leather corset accessorised with a kid's medical kit, since it
was "dress like Art" night at the Lab. Krista got dressed in an amazing
red dress that she'd made herself, it had lacing across the hips and lots
of lace and satin flowing bits. She was going out to dinner though and not
actually coming out with us. The guys eventually got their steaks and were
all so hungry that they inhaled them in unison. One local woman passed
around samples of some soap that she'd made and we admired her partner's
t-shirt slogan. Art went against the dress code and dressed formally. :)
We headed over to the Lab, leaving a few guests to finish the food. I
danced a fair amount, the music was good down there tonight. Olimpia and I
left around 3 and I managed to find Art's house with no unplanned
detours. The rest of them came in later and I remember waking up and
saying hi when Krista or Etienne stepped over me. .
Sun Jan 16, 2000
The alarm woke us up at 8:30am, and by some miracle we managed to get
dressed and packed and on the road by 9:30am, since some of us had to be
back to T.O. by 2pm or so. No problems at the border, then we stopped
near London for more coffee, and I let Siobhan drive the rest of the way
home, since the blowing snow and high winds had stressed me out while I
was driving. I bought ice cream and relaxed. :) We dropped Etienne off
first then Siobhan for her meeting and I dropped off Olimpia. I was going
to pick up a skirt I'd ordered, but I didn't have the receipt with me, so
I just headed home to try and catch up on my sleep.
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