"We should bring some wine. That would be nice."
"That would! Nice thinking!"
We brought six bottles of red wine.
It was going to be a pisser.
I really would be lying to you, if I remembered everything from this evening. My Dixie cup used for holding red wine was forever being re-filled, I hadn't eaten much all day - all week, really and the alcohol took effect very quickly.
I met a lot of wonderful people - strangely, a lot of freelance writers, living in Paris -
but from America. Not very different from me, even. Nice people. One of my favorite things developed in the middle of this party. A marching band!
I remember meeting one of the hostesses of the party - she showed me her room. They had just moved in - thus, the reason for the party.
"Nice View"
We were on the twenty-third floor. This is rare in Paris. We were barely in Paris, but still, this is rare.
"If you need to sleep - you can sleep in my bed! "
"Oh! No, no - I'm sure I'll be well towards going home, before I need to sleep. "
The only thing I was well towards, was getting absolutely loaded. The clock creaked towards the wee hours. The party dwindling to a few hangers-on. A new game was made up! I don't know what the point was - sort of like charades, but not quite. Words in a hat. The hat passed around. Teams... something-something.
I realized I needed to use the bathroom.
I did.
I then remembered the hostesses bed.
Crash.
I dreamed I was flying.
It was a wonderful experience. Above everything. Above the world. So at peace.
Then I realized, I wasn't in my own bed. Not that I have a bed to sleep in right now, but this bed - this bed right here, wasn't mine.
But the view - the flying, was real.
I checked the apartment. A dozen people asleep, including my British friend.
For whatever reason, I thought it bright to try to walk home. I looked for some food to eat (I was starved) and a pen - to write a thank you to my hostess. I found neither, so I just decided to go.
Still. Loaded.
I thought I knew the way home. I thought I was North West of where I was staying.
So, I started south. My plain was to find the Seine, and just follow it back, near home,
"Taser New 65 Euro"
I finally got a little bored of walking and not hitting, you know, "Paris". Something - anything. I advised a local map at a bus stop.
I had been going the completely opposite direction I needed to go.
Drunk.
This was a bad neighborhood. I wasn't even in Paris, anymore. I walked back, as the sun slowly crept up. Another night, defeated.
Took the metro - the metro was now actually operating, home and crashed out around 8:00am. Had to get up at 12:00.
Hungover
Road fixed-gears bikes to La Defense via the Champs-Élysées.
Terrifying.
I'm awake, now.
"Helped" my very generous host with a client she works with. He is insane. I am trying to talk to him, but I have to also act as if I'm insane to make this conversation work.
Lots of awkward silence.
I've never seen someone use 6 gigs of Gmail storage, until today. Fascinating. His filing system on his computer is almost as interesting as the entire wall of actual paper filing on the opposite side of the room, from his three computers. All different, all mashed together from broken ones.
Left, after mixing around with 13-year-old parkour kids and back through Champs-Élysées. Still - terrifying.
I am up, again.
Stopped back at home to pick up camera and sketchbooks. Riding to the exact opposite side of town to do a Dr. Sketchy's.
If you told me today, I would be in some sort of 50's rock and roll revival super rummage sale, in Paris, I'd call you a fool. But there I was. What's strange is that Paris was never into Rock and Roll - not until late late into the 60's, so this fascination with greasers, or whatever is strangely weird. Lots of swing kids, etc - that made more sense. Sort of.
Dr. Sketchy's happened in the middle of a giant warehouse that used to hold the local buses. When we started, the entire crowd around us, focused down. It was an incredible spectacle. I'm just drawing!
It's just a little different in Paris.
It's now, again 3:25am. Wake up call at 8:00am for bike rides through the countryside.
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