I’m back in Malaysia now and mission USUK 2009 is completed. Finally some time to sit back and recall the past two weeks.

After my last post on Tuesday, September 29th – I left my Mexi-CAN clan and met with Theresa. She picked me up from BWI and we drove into DC (almost didn’t get there!) and we had supper at Sticky Rice on H Street. It’s a nice quaint place that serves Asian-fusion food where colourful people eat. I ordered the Osaka Tuna steak sandwich

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Apparently Tuesday  nights is karaoke night there but no embarrassing acts of ‘empty orchestra’ happened. Just some catch up time with a good friend and trying not to pass out from exhaustion, jet lag and everything between. After dinner, we still had to get back to her home away from home over in Gaithersburg and after head to VA. We had planned to go to Kings Dominion early next morning for T’s birthday but after tix had already been purchased online we find out its CLOSED! In a way it’s a blessing in disguise cause I was still suffering from major vertigo and I don’t think crazy roller coasters would’ve helped. Instead we spent the day at Tysons Corner mall and I got some shopping done.

Later T & I headed back to Baltimore to catch WAVVES at the Ottobar. The Mexi-CAN clan were there, and also a few other people I hadn’t seen in a looooooong time (and a few I hadn’t even met!) Wavves were pretty awesome. I expected a better turn out but the less the people the better for us cause we wouldn’t have been able to bop around up front the way we did. The new drummer, Zach Hill, is a killer skin king. He gave the performance an extra sound (compared to what I’ve seen of Wavves live on YouTube). It kinda almost drastically changed how the songs sound on record (that or maybe it was speakers blaring right next to me that shot my earlobes that support this statement of mine). Needless to say, after an expectedly good time, I just wanted to stick Nate Williams (who essentially is Wavves) into my luggage and take him home with me. I managed to catch him by the merch table after the show and dude is just…a dude. Despite the interwebz branding him an “asshole” or whatever. I could totally just ‘hang’ with him. I got him to sign my t-shirt in which he wrote “Maya, Fuck Jesus. XO NW“. BRO!

I did see him and his ‘crew’ up at the bar before the gig playing pool but didn’t really approach them. When I saw them again up at the bar later in the evening after the show I asked them where they were off to after and they said “DC” in which I then made some stupid joke about how they should leave NOW cause DC’s quite a drive away. I don’t think it gelled too well cause all I got in turn was “it’s only an hour away”. Durrrr. Next thing you know I’m downing more Natty Boh’s and we’re all dancing to Wu Tang Clan. Some black dude (who had been living in Alaska for the past 8 years) came up to me later and totally praised my dancing said I was “feeling it”. Boy, this junk in the trunk doesn’t just sit there – it moves, it goes badonkadonk. U feeling ME now?

Jump forward and we’re back at Carolina’s place after a pretty crazy time and was treated to her and Monica doing a song and dance for us, something they had been rehearsing during the day while I was away attending to my retail needs with T. I managed to record this on video – but only the last few seconds of it.

The next morning we went to eat at this Mexican place just down the road. After 15 years or so I finally had my fix of ‘real’ Mexican food. Tacos Al Pastor, rez, chorizos, tortas, guacamole..etc..etc.. I think even the mineral water we drank was packaged in Mexico!

Ironically served on one of those plates you eat on at Chinese restaurants

In the afternoon by the time we all showered and ‘prettied’ ourselves up, we went to the harbour by Canton to catch the water taxi to get to Fells Point. FAIL. The water taxi never came and when it did we had left and ate at one of those harbourfront restaurants. A few hours later we had a BBQ over at Carol & Tom’s place. We went to Nacho Mama’s after and I finally had one of those Margarita’s in a hub cap. Awfully tasty and I don’t think I’ve ever been so ’soberly messed up’ as I did that evening cause when I woke up the next morning I was fully convinced I had 20/20 vision! Turns out I had left my contacts in the night before and I swear I don’t recall any of this happening. Joke is on me I guess.

Waiting for the water taxi that never came

More beligerence ensues into the night:- Martini’s, ‘ Cristal’, more cat nip – ow my system hurts thinking about it. I think I’m missing a day or two somewhere in here – but it seems like one big LOOOOOOOOONG day honestly, but a good one at that. Before I knew it, it was Saturday and we were at Little Havana’s drinking mimosas and Paul came to pick Rosie up. The troop split and I was saddened. It was more the times ’shared’ than what actually happened. Being back with my homeys (as one) after 13 years was just amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as hard. I didn’t even have to think half the time. Now that’s what I call a HOLIDAY..oops, I meant VACATION (sorry I’m writing about my trip to America).

The last night in the B-more – I decided I’d get in touch with a few ‘blasts from the pasts’ – one of whom suffered a recent motorcycle accident and couldn’t meet up and the other who dropped from the face of the earth (a few months before he was suppose to be my date to my sister’s wedding last year) – of whom still remains dropped from the earth it seems. I even received a message from the blast of all pasts – neither of whom I met with.

Links to relevant sites related to the above post:

• Blogger writes about the Wavves show @ the Ottobar, Sept 30 2009
  
• AV Club interview with Wavves
• Magic America photos 2009 via my Facebook.

A post about my UK (London / Edinburgh / Inverness / Glasgow) is next !!

P/S – thanks to Mel for pointing this out but apparently my “comments” section is all out of whacked. I dunno why – must be a script issue in which case I’m shit (or you’re shit) out of luck . I guess if u do have any comments or whatever there are other forms of contact.