Scott and Poi: a great night

Friday night, my friend, Scott, and I went to see our favorite band, Poi Dog Pondering.  I wasn't that excited about the concert.  Scott and I have seen Poi Dog many, many times together.  20? 30 shows?  I wrote about another Poi Dog experience with Scott here.  But the thing about the concerts is that they tend to start and end late, and for this 9:00pm bed-time chick, that's tough to do.
Before I continue with the story of our evening, I want to share a story about Scott and myself.


I met Scott in June of 1990.  He was my boss in my first job out of college.  Scott and I worked next to each other, and when I say right next to each other, I mean our desks touched each other.  Anyway, after working there for six months or so, Scott asked me if I wanted to go out for a drink after work.  After sitting side by side for six months, I thought for sure Scott asked me out after work so that he could tell me how he really felt about me.  He was going to tell me he loved me!!
I was nervous all afternoon.  Finally 4:45 (our quitting time) arrived, and Scott and I headed to the bar at Chili's.  We each ordered a strawberry margarita (that should have been my first clue).  We chatted, and then Scott was ready to confess his love for me.  [sound of needle screeching on the record]  Scott didn't tell me he loved me.  Nope.  Instead he told me he was gay, and that he had been with his partner close to four years (they will be celebrating 25 years together this year).  Anyway, that was the beginning of our beautiful friendship that is now over 20 years old.  Holy shit!  20 years!

So, back to the Poi concert.  Scott and I met for dinner before the show, and we really took our time because we were so used to Poi starting late, or after an opening act.  When we finally arrived at the theater, Poi had already taken the stage.  Luckily we had only missed about 30 seconds of the show.
We took our seats, and got comfortable, and that is when it hit me.  Poi Dog makes me happy.  Seeing Poi Dog with Scott makes me even happier.  I had forgotten how happy their shows make me until I was there in the thick of it.

Untitled from Natalie Mikolajczak on Vimeo.

Scott noticed that the theater had new seats and that explained why my ass was stuck in them when I went to get up!  They must have installed new seats, but much smaller chairs so that they were able to squeeze more seats in every row (that's my story, and I am sticking to it).

It was a fantabulous evening and it is always nice to be reminded what makes us happiest: favorite friends and favorite bands.

Embarrassing moment # 1,437

I love performing. I danced for nearly 20 years, and loved being on stage. I was on the speech team in high school, and enjoyed speaking in front of people.


However, I do not enjoy dancing at a club and I do not enjoy talking to people I do not know very well.

The important thing is that I have practiced my dance or script, and I know what I am doing, and I can go on with confidence. I am just not quick on my feet. I have trouble in social situations when I don't know people very well. I have no idea what to say. I am shy as hell. I would rather sit in the corner eating appetizers (hmmm, maybe that's where all this weight has come from) than have to talk to people I don't know very well.
---
Poi Dog Pondering is my favorite band. Luckily for me, they are based in Chicago and I've probably seen them in concert 35 times or so. Most of those concerts have been with my friend, Scott. I've been to San Francisco to see them and Scott has seen them in Washington D.C. We have even 'borrowed' friends' children to go to a Poi Dog children's concert. Yeah, we like 'em. A lot.

A few years ago, Scott and I were out for dinner. We were dining and drinking and enjoying each others company like we always do. Then, as I was sitting there, I saw Frank Orrall, the lead singer/mastermind of Poi Dog come walking in the door. I bounced in my seat as I told Scott who was walking in behind him. Scott, the calm, cool, collected quick thinker that he is, said that we should send Frank’s table some drinks. So, we did just that. Yeah, we’re cool like that.

Next thing I know, calm and cool Scott is bouncing up and down in his seat as he tells me that Frank is making his way to our table. Can you imagine? The leader of the band we have been stalking following for years is coming over to our table.

Frank arrives at our table and thanks us for the drinks.

This is my chance, right? To tell the man how we love his music, how we’ve been listening for years, how we borrow children so we can witness his band’s magic.

Yeah, right. Whatever.

I so cleverly say:

“We’re really big fans.”

That’s it.

Like I was Kathy Bates from “Misery” or something! Yeah, my big chance, and I basically scare the guy so bad, he hightails it back to his table.

See, it’s better if I just keep eating and keep my mouth shut.