After going to bed around 12:30 last night, I woke up at 3:00am and couldn’t get back to sleep. It is now 7:40 and I’ve given up on falling back asleep so I’ve gotten up and made coffee. But I still feel tired.

Last night I was giddy with the prospect of going to La Lomita with Melba, my first dining-out experience in the last two months. I had a $25 gift card which paid for most of my portion so I was able to rationalize the expense of going out. It was a great meal, with great conversation, and I practically licked my plate clean. Hopefully it won’t be another two months until I can return.

Usually after our nights at LL I would wake up at some point in the night, smacking my lips together and needing to hydrate from the split pitcher of margaritas earlier in the evening. Maybe that’s what woke me up last night, maybe not. For when I did wake up, it was with the abruptness of what’s-her-name in Pulp Fiction when she gets the adrenalin styringed straight into her heart. I wasn’t having a dream, at least not one that I can recall, that shocked me awake. Then I just couldn’t get back to sleep.

Now I’m counting down (and hoping I can stay awake until) brunch today. A good friend from NYC, Nancy, is down this weekend and offered to take me to brunch. See how the love is flowin’ y’all? We’re meeting up at Rosemary’s Thyme which I have never been to. Oh! Let’s check out their brunch menu. I think egg’s benedict (always a favorite) or maybe the cured salmon. Or maybe the spinach ravioli from the lunch menu?

I went with the eggs benedict. They were good, but not as good as the eggs neptune at Busboys & Poets that I had a couple of weeks ago. Also joining for brunch was Glen, and also down from New York. He’s a freelance web designer and combined with Nancy’s ad agency experience they really sparked me up on the New York job market and are going to return home and see if they can dig up any contacts or job opportunities up there in the Big Apple.

They had a couple of hours before their train left so we scooted over to the National Building Museum. We visited the Detour exhibit: new and unique rest stops and pit stops along Norway’s National tourist Routes; and Green Community: pollution-contaminated urban spaces and their steps towards turnaround to a viable, livable and public-transit-friendly communities. The Detour exhibit had great models and photography and we discussed how great it would be if our government’s “stimulus package” would incorporate some clever, unique designs instead of awarding the contract to the lowest bidding contractor. Probability factor: not likely. The Green Community exhibit had some really cool electronics in it, including traffic lane entrances that while you walked forward, the vehicle you were standing over (I ended up in the bike lane) would move with you and give you information on that mode of travel. At the end of the exhibit was this wonderfully animated touch-screen of an evolving community and the choices that can be made to improve it and why those options are beneficial. Fun stuff.

//this was written last saturday, the 10th, and i just now realize it was never posted//

Today I am doing free things.

I was up this morning and farting around: having coffee, surfing, reconnecting with EFP about last night’s videocam test and subsequent abrupt passout. A lazy morning and afternoon were in effect.

Then I get a text from Robamos who’s getting his haircut (and checking out the Marines, no doubt) down on Barracks Row. R’s offering a free take on breffus and my dilemma: be a lazy fuck all day or get my ass in gear? I decide to bolt for the shower.

I was assuming we’d do brunch somewhere on the Hill, somewhere local, but as I get into Rob’s truck he throws out options that I hadn’t considered, neighborhoods away. Such a sweetheart.

We decided on the new Busboys & Poets, which is in Rob’s ‘hood and in the same building as the new Results, which I’ve never been to. I ordered a bloody mary and eggs neptune, which is basically eggs benedict, but with crab lumps instead of ham. Delicious. Afterwards we drove around a bit and Rob showed me about the new up-and-comings in the neighborhood. It was amazing how much that area has changed in the last couple of years. Give it five more and Wow.

After coming home and napping I met up with mcG and Siri after their show at the National Theater. We were gonna go and have some drynx and catch-up, mcG said he’d buy me drynx all night. Another friend coming in strong. We were walking up and decided to cut to Green Lantern, Siri had never been and I hadn’t been there in a couple of years. Luckily, it was pretty vacant and we were able to get a wrap-around banquette where we could actually carry a conversation. It was nice to catch up with each of them. And Robamos, too, earlier in the day.

Gotta cut to the chase: I’m walking west on Mass, up to and thru Dupont Circle and I’m getting this strange feeling like this is my last trip through here. After 25 years, when first hanging out here was Smalltown Boy’s dreams, just waiting for it all to come true. Well the time is now and maybe all of those dreams have not come true. What do you to? Do you hold them tight or do you let them go?

I walked over here without listening to headphones, I’m thinking that this maybe one of my last opportunities to actually listen to DC at night and hear what it sounds like.

The bus driver, on the second-to-last bus of the evening, speeds by me knowing that there are no passengers except those losers that need to get home late at night. I have to run half a block and repeatedly whistle to get him to stop. He doesn’t seem remorseful as he opens the door and I get in, I sit in the back, as usual, and he drives fast throughout the city. I’m hoping he’s not speeding past those who don’t know how to whistle.

Here it is: I was laid off on Tuesday. Technically Monday, but as I was still recooping from the weekend’s germ-fest I didn’t get the news until I went in Tuesday morning.

I was fearing this would be happening, but didn’t really think it would. But then it did. Five others were also laid off, cutting the studio staff by 20%. That’s a pretty big cut. I figured that if any of the production managers would be cut that it would be me, considering the year I’ve had.

So now what to do? I’ve been taking this week and sleeping in (except for today) and taking it easy. I’ve looked into (and when I say that, I mean I investigated some websites) receiving unemployment benefits and after advice from friends, signing up for food stamps. Which apparently are not really stamps anymore, but are issued in credit card form. I guess that will help alleviate some embarrassment at the checkout line but I’m sure the cashiers know. The unemployment place is on Rhode Island Ave in Brentwood and the food stamp place is at H St NW & North Capitol so that will be a fun day of running around on the bus system. But not today because it’s raining and cold and nasty out.

I’ll get my final paycheck at the end of the month, so that will at least pay rent thru January. I’ve already told friends that I’m not going to be going out for dinners or even one drink and I’m counting my quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Jeff took me out to dinner at Argonaut on Tuesday which was really thoughtful. And Goldy showed up on Wednesday with some groceries which I thought was really just the sweetest thing to do. She included pastas/sauces, soups, clementines, toiletries, even a bag of Funjuns. Now I’ve got to make sure I eat all my perishables first and stretch out what’s in my cupboard as long as I can.

I also have to quit my gym membership because that’s too expensive to hold on to while I’m pinching costs elsewhere.

I’ll go in this weekend to clear out my office, which has over eight years of personal and goofy stuff that has accumulated. I’ll need to clean off my hard drive too of mp3s and photos and other stuff; this will probably take longer than cleaning out my office.

December has not really been my favorite month. Let me take that back. Sometimes it can be bittersweet but it’s never really fun. There’s too much gift-buying shopping anxiety, too many obnoxious commercials on the television, too much faux joyousness.

And there’s always The Birthday. I don’t think I’ve ever liked having been born during the holiday season. There’s always the question: “Does your birthday sometimes get overlooked because if the holidays?” to which my response is always “Duh.” It could be worse: Brandon’s birthday is on December 31, and you know he never gets any respect of privitization with that date.

So when your birthday falls on a Wednesday during holiday season, and you’re my age, it’s really not a big deal.

I was planning on getting some friends together for cocktails at a new swanky joint on Pennsylvania Ave SE. I had previously talked with the owner about having a drop-in from 7–10 and getting a couple of bucks off from drink prices for those invited. I followed up with an email and didn’t get a response. I went back there last week to check in again and it seemed all deals were off the table so that soured me on that proposition.

I tried to figure out other options but nothing was really coming to mind. Being late in the game to send out invites (although it still would have been a very casual evening) and getting an invitation from friends for a non-birthday related cocktail party on Thursday, I threw in the towel and decided to do nothing. Melba did coax me out though to one of our fave places, La Lomita, for some birthday tacos and margaritas. It was a low-key evening but one that was still very fun.

The DC Council has voted to essentially make the city a 24-hour party town during inauguration weekend, January 17–21. From the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP)—The D.C. Council has approved emergency legislation allowing the city’s bars, nightclubs and restaurants to stay open around the clock for four days around President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

The bill allows any establishment with a liquor license to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. and serve food at any hour from Jan. 17 until the morning of Jan. 21.

The council approved the measure in a 9-4 vote Tuesday and was pushed by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. The organization says the inauguration is a rare event that is worthy of special rules.

While everybody knows that you can get free coffee from Starbucks or ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s on election day, here are some two local establishments getting in on the act.

Chef Spike’s Good Stuff Eatery is offering a free Good Stuff Cookie or Brownie if you show your “I voted” sticker. You must present the emailed certificate when ordering so print it out now. The certificate, really html, is here so just print this and trim it out. This offer is good only on election day.

The 9:30 Club is having an even better offer. For one hour on Wednesday (it’s an “election hangover special”) from 10–11am it’s buy-one-get-one-free for all concert tickets. Great deal, but unforch there’s not really any shows coming up that I’d want to see. Too bad The Charlatans aren’t coming until 2009.

The forecast for yesterday was rain: showers in the morning, showers in the afternoon. I kept a watchful eye outside and it does look wet and windy. Drat. I was hoping to avoid taking an umbrella with me all day but it seems a necessity now. I had a six-block walk from my arrival bus stop to the Corcoran for Todges’ (Todd Hodges) gallery show and silent auction and didn’t want to arrive wet.

It hit me on the bus that I didn’t know the faces of the friends of Todges’ that I have been talking with on the phone and emailing to/from for the past month. Will there be nametags? Will we have to publicly introduce ourselves?

As I Twittered yesterday, I decided to listen to Madonna on the bus ride over, as Todges was just about the biggest Madonna fan I’ve ever met. And I’ve met some big fans. The Madonna music was to continue throughout the day, played at the ceramics studio and the restaurant.

I arrive at the Corcoran where I immediately run into Robert (Bob) Devers, Todd’s ceramics instructor. Todges and I went to a showing of Bob’s work in March 2007. Bob had a picture of of me and Todges together that he had hung up in the ceramics studio, above the chalkboard. So I guess we’ll always be looking down on the studio which is kind of nice.

After speaking with Bob briefly the introductions to other people starting flowing, even people I had never met. It was a warm and friendly reception which I was thankful for. Some people had landed here on futurejunkie during their google searches so they were a little familiar with who I was.

The main reason for this reception was the silent auction of Todges’ ceramic pieces. Todges had given me a piece of his work, one of his rattles, that is a devil on one end and the Virgin Mary on the other. I was thinking I would bid on a companion piece. I really wanted to get a piece titled “The Gunslinger” but I was afraid that it seemed so fragile and might end up being broken as I don’t really have a place to display it. So I didn’t bid on anything, I’m just going to keep the piece that Todges gave me and I think that means more.

During the auction I was able to meet Tip, Todges’ #1, and Steven, Todges #2. I had spoken with Steven on the phone and it was nice to put a face to his voice. He offered me a ride over to the memorial service and I was glad that I wouldn’t have to try and find a cab in the rain.

At Finn & Porter’s, where the actual service was to be held, I was introduced to more friendly folks, Myrna and Todges’ mom, Pat. Myrna is a warm soul and first met Todges like 16 years ago or something. She told me about how, after moving here from Panama, Todges opened up her eyes (and eventually her family’s) to people of all kinds without prejudice or discrimination. How’s that for a legacy? But most importantly, I was able to meet Todges’ mother and receive a little more information on T’s last days, his upbringing and lots of other pieces that filled in the puzzle.

I had originally felt guilt when I heard of Todd’s passing, that maybe I wasn’t being as good of an ex-boyfriend and current friend as I could have. But after speaking with all these people and hearing the same story from everybody, it comes down to Todd not wanting people to know how sick he was, including his own mother and his current roommate. I guess some people have the advantage of being able to take themselves out of the game on their own rules and this is what Todges did. So this eased my mind a little.

And this was something totally Todges: in the center of the buffet table was a four-foot Gucci ice sculpture, complete with vodka shot shoots for two. Practically everybody got in on those action eventually, to the point where instead of running back and forth from the bar for shotglass refills the bartender brought the bottle over and stuck it in the ice. We all thought that Todges would think that it was fabulous.

Presiding over the ceremony portion was the minister? chaplain? spiritual guidance advisor? who was with Todges at GW Hospital while he was in ICU. In addition to her comforting words, she ended with these words, quoting the “great philosopher”:

You must be my lucky star
Cause you shine on me wherever you are
I just think of you and I start to glow
And I need your light and baby you know

You must be my lucky star
Cause you make the darkness seem so far
And when I’m lost you’ll be my guide
I just turn around and you’re by my side

You may be my lucky star
But I’m the luckiest by far.

Here’s info on Todd Hodges’ memorial services happening today.

Celebration and Gallery Display
Saturday, October 25th at 1pm
Corcoran College of Art+Design
500 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-639-1801

• Please use the ‘E’ Street Entrance—FYI—there is only ‘one’ entrance on E Street—look for the ramp and metal doors. Ring the buzzer and tell the guard that you are going to the Hodges reception in “ceramics”. This will be a very informal reception with a display of Todd’s work with a silent auction of his pieces. Wine/cheese will be served.
• Parking/Public Transportation: the Corcoran is just a few blocks away from metro stations: Farragut West: on the Orange/Blue lines (take the 17th street exit) and Farragut North: on the Red line (take the K Street exit). From either station walk south on 17th street to the Corcoran. Parking near the Corcoran: There is plenty of metered street parking available in the area from 9:30 am to 4 pm daily.

Memorial Service and Reception
2:30pm (approximate as we will be coming from Corcoran)
The Embassy Suites at the Convention Center
Finn and Porter Restaurant—Private Dining Room
900 10th Street NW, 
Washington, District of Columbia
202-739-2001

• Valet parking is available at the hotel for $5—mention you are going to event at Finn and Porter. 

Memorial Fund
Corcoran Gallery of Art/Corcoran College of Art + Design
Attention: Development Office/Janice Marks—enclose letter or add to memo line: “M. Todd Hodges Memorial Fund”
500 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Contributions can also be made online through the Corcoran’s website: http://www.corcoran.org/campaign/gift_tribute.htm

Lookey at what I found walking home from the gym last night. These posters are mounted to the hiding wall of an empty lot on Pennsylvania Ave, SE. After having dinner with Melba at La Lomita we went back and carefully pulled out staples to steal one each.