novembre

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entertained and giggly

thanks for letting me stay at your apartment and eat your toast in the morningtimes. thanks for introducing me to your friends and to the world of karaoke.

on my last night in portland, jo-jo, georges and i braved the bumpiest road to some sort of trucker tiki bar and sat in the last booth in the corner, underneath swaying straw lanterns, next to thirtysomething lesbians that looked like romy and michelle, ten years too late for their high school reunion.

we leafed through song books and they each picked two but i was content to watch and sing along from booth safety, my giant, sour-tasting five dollar drink in both hands.

all was well in the world of karaoke until the KC overstepped personal boundaries between songs
i've got five children and social security cut me off! i better not joke about that, it might come true. ok. time for our first duet of the evening, you two come on up here, man and man or woman on woman if that's what you are, i guess its your thing
and overzealous women with small lungs rasped their meandering ways through lady marmalade and the touchy-feely maker-outer in the next booth wilted after the first verse of ice ice, baby but my copatriots were unfazed as they belted such hits as please mister postman and nine to five.

i watched the audience not watch the karaoke singers. even those who got exceptionally into their song choice didn't muster a full three minute's worth of attention from most of the room. we didn't pay attention completely either, only tidbits and fast calls while we doodled and tried each others' drinks.

(you both have voices like child stars, where is ed mcmahon when you need him?)

9:29 pm - 09.02.02

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