AZ's Diary of a Damned Man

Woke up at around 3 AM and we were both more or less wide awake.

Around noon Kelly went off to work and I went home did a few things tweaked a press kit (thanks Kimberly) and met her later to get ready for a night at Transit where they were debuting the new VIP room. We got there just after they opened and cut the line as always and once in the hall we already had 1/2 a dozen people remark they hadn't seen me in awhile. Then Jordan took us back to the VIP room made a few people move and we started with an hour of free cocktails. Then the gentleman that he is he began ringing us out the champagne. 4 bottles in all or was it 3. I lost count. We also sent one to the people who were sitting next to us. By 130 or 2 it was time to go. We had more than enough and a big day planned for Sunday. So we got a cab and split for the north side.

I woke up at seven Am and got a bus home and then went back. Kelly and I had brunch at Holiday Club and I swear I had the best eggs benedict of my life. To no surprise she had the same. This is a weird trend that we somehow enjoy almost exactly the same foods. The pitchers were 1/2 off so I had Bloody Mary's and she had Mimosa's. I couldn't even finish mine. Which is bizarre. It was already after 11 and we had planned to be at the gay Pride parade at 11. So we spilt, packed up my cooler and went off to grab a primo spot right where the parade turned at Halsted and Broadway. Everyone was partying. And after all the years of marching in band and all of the parades I've seen and been sick and tired of this is the only one I look forward to. The first time I went was in 2000 when I hadn't even lived here quite a year, and it was a riot, and I had to go do my radio show that night. And every year after I can never find anyone especially my significant other to attend. I mean it's not like you have to be gay to support the people or even have some fun. I find it odd that some people still have prejudices accepting that lifestyle. But hell with it, this parade is a good time and Kelly is a fun gal. And we had a GREAT time. I video taped it and all I could think of was I can't wait to show my little brother. You could hear me laughing over the crowd because some of the shenanigans were so damn hilarious. At least to me.

The gang sans AZ

After the parade we just happened to walk past El Mariachi and Kelly could not resist, so cooler, camera and all we went in and ordered a big pitcher of their great margaritas and a couple of Chicken Burritos Suizo. And Ol El M always means a good time for AZ afterwards. Don't ask me why but it always ends up the same way.

We got back to her pad both fell asleep for a few hours and I woke up just in time for Blue Collar Comedy Tour and woke her up in time to see my favorite comedian Ron "Tater Salad" White. FINALLY. I have seen this damn show so many times and have told her about it for the last 6 weeks and it finally came on. The we had a nice quiet evening inside with the AC and her cat.

And that was my weekend. Yesterday it was so fucking hot AGAIN that I couldn't bear being in my house with only one AC and it being in my room so we went to a buffet and then did some shopping for a few hours in a nice big AIR CONDITIONED department store and then just chilled out till late watching Desperado and Once Upon A Time In Mexico and ended up being up till 3 not able to sleep. Something was bugging us.

So for there not being any real rock n roll involved it was a rock n roll style weekend. And next weekend Jesse Jane all weekend and wrapping it up with seeing the Cubs with her and the AVN staff as well as some other porn stars she's supposed to be tagging along. Maybe Cytherea? (for both of us)? Arianna Jolie? (for Kelly) ? or MISSY MONROE? I can't wait to see her brothers reaction to this one.

I was up till almost 5 and then only got 15 minutes of sleep at odd intervals. I tossed and turned and had hot/cold flashes and sweats all night. And today I enjoyed a strange Chicago early afternoon trying to locate the new location of an old record store. I didn't get home till after 3 and have had minimum sleep. I have a bad feeling tonight will be the same. But that is something that comes and goes a lot less than it used to so I should be thankful.

Also a big THANKS to Alexandra Greenberg for the comps to the party last night. And to Red Light for the stack of porn that came in the mail today.

Then I went over to Tuscany where I was to meet Sherrie, Nikk and Penny and another hot friend of his and then Kelly showed up with her brother who I ended up really hitting it off with. We got into Metro in just enough time to see Society 1 and I would end up hanging out with their founder later on none other than Matt Zane himself. Brand New Sin were killer and really pulled out all the stops when they played their 45 min set and they really showed their appreciation for Chicago. This is going to end up being a big band in the near future. After them and a 15 minute break Scum of the Earth came out and really tore it up for 45 min. After that I hung out downstairs for a bit and then along with Kelly and Sherrie we inducted Kelly's brother Greg into the Beer Mafia at Ranalli's and that when her really began to earn his O!

This guy is home from college and he's working in Elgin and it was obvious he and Kelly hadn't hung out in awhile. So we did Ranalli's for a few hours an don the way home stopped in at the Holiday Club where Dave Roberts was spinning. And speaking of spinning Greg began to spin himself. He was out of it and it was pretty funny. We got him to the apartment and he passed out on the sofa. And my weekend was just beginning.

Kelly left for work and Greg was planning on going back home. We got sucked into an Evel Knievel show on History Channel and then After being impressed with his level of intellect I offered him to hang out at my place and we headed to the house. Greg picked up a fifth of Jim Beam and we watched some funny stuff and decided to go to the store and get more supplies to cook out. Kelly met up with us at Jewel and we loaded up on vodka, Jooseh, and grub and came back to my place for a cook out and more. Greg ended up staying the night and most of the next day before he headed off to Elgin on the Metra which he ended up passing out on. All I'm going to say is he was carried off the train and he passed out on a bench where his parents ended up finding him and now he's on crutches. So I've awarded him an O! As he definitely earned it and then some. So I've made a new friend in this guy. And he earned my respect in many ways.

Yesterday upon waking Mike next door tossed me a beer and Kelly a cigarette. Yup that's right she smokes and I haven't kissed a smoker in over 10 years and even before that they were few and far between. So basically there's something to this chick if I tolerate the habit.

And Mike and I and Diane and Kelly hung out and went to Kelsey's for $1 burgers and then to Ranalli's where Mike got on the wall. And that's the way it was.

We arrived at Crobar around 930 PM. it was Me, Kelly and our friend Sherrie all meeting on the El. Sheri gets into the CTA train and her huge rack is spilling out of her corset which is tied tight over her 4'11 frame. And she's getting all the stares and comments from assholes who act like they've never seen a woman before. But that's the way she seems to like it so good for her. I though those things were going to pop myself like two over inflated balloons. We got to the door and checked in as they crossed our names off of the list and I asked for John. And the guy next to me tells me that he’s John (Brads brother) and asks if I’m Alex Zander and after my reply and handshakes he hands me an envelope with our two passes to Monday (last nights) advance screening of my personal most anticipated film of the last year.

Once inside we go upstairs and an old acquaintance of mine Matt is bartending and Kelly starts a tab. A tab that would get ludicrous due to the Crobars overinlflated drink prices. Lets for the record say that for the price of 2 cocktails we could have a 1/5th of the liquor we were sipping. But that’s the way these big clubs are. Hell even Metro is getting pricey on their mixes. But in joints like Crobar, Transit and House Of Blues you’re paying for the atmosphere.

David and Jamey from Your Plan B and Gothic Chicago found us and I told them that our friend Trisha Starr emailed me and told me that she had done the costumes and choreography for the event. It took awhile but we found Trish but it would be much later.

Joel found me and then Dietrich showed up and we had our own little gang growing. And drinks were flowing and flowing and we were just at about the point where it was time to go home. So Kelly closed our tab and we ended up getting on our way in a cab en route to her abode.

The show at the club was pretty nice though being upstairs we missed the Catwomen go go dancing and guys swinging around on ropes dressed like Robin or a likeness of him at least. Several guys were dressed exactly the same in Riddler outfits and the girls dressed like Catwoman all looked HOT. But Kelly out-hotted them all in her black version of the dress Marilyn Monroe wore in Seven Year Itch. And I said it then, and the day after and I'm putting in on the record that of all of the women I've been out with NEVER has anyone looked so nice in a particular attire as Kelly did this night at Crobar.

And I spent all weekend in antcipation of last night and it was about to become Monday.

Yesterday I woke too early and got some work out of the way rather quickly before shooting over to Kelly’s to get her going so we could get downtown to the cinema and get in line. You need to understand that they purposely over book the theatres so it’s first come first serve when it comes to seating.

Around 4 they announced the Michael Jackson verdict. And I was shocked that they didn’t even find him guilty of a misdemeanor. In a way I’m not surprised but at the same time everyone knows that sex offenders especially pedophiliacs are not able to be rehabilitated. And are more often than not repeat offenders. And this guy has beat the rap every time. The news stations were and still are all over it. A reporter on CNN reminded us that “Not Guilty Does Not Mean Innocent”. And the late night comedians were the most fun about it. And I got to catch Jon Stewart, Letterman and Craig Ferguson give the verdict their treatment. The latter by far being the most hilarious.

But rewinding to earlier in the afternoon, we finally after a slow train conductor got downtown to the theatre to get in line for BATMAN BEGINS advanced screening. That’s Murphy’s Law hard at work for ya’. Any other time it’d take 15 minutes to get to the stop we needed to get out from However before we arrived at our destination we had already been on 35 min.

And we were in line for a long fucking time. And it has been a long fucking time that I’ve stood in line. But for this movie you can bet you ass that I would. I also avoid crowded theatres, preferring to catch a film during the day when it’s not packed full of people and people talk over the film. But as we got in and they checked our bags and they ran metal detectors over us we got a nice pair of isle seats which made the wait in line well worth the wait.

The movie began and it was a non-stop thrill ride for 2 ½ hours. And this one didn’t miss a beat. They showed exactly how Bruce Wayne’s parents murder had affected him, they showed how Gotham had gone bad, they told the story of how a Princeton graduate would acquire his skill and agility and fighting lessons. And then they told the story of how he developed the character and the Batcave and how the Batmobile was created, and how and how all of the weapons and the suit and the cape were invented.

And Alfred’s character was truly developed and a pivotal part of the film as well as Morgan Freeman’s character of Fox. And Gary Oldman as Gordon was perfectly cast and it was good to see him not play a villain for once.

Bale was over the top. He was Batman and I feel was perfectly cast as the Dark Knight. And when he took on his prey he would swoop out of the sky unlike any other Batman. He would use the element of surprise more akin to Alien or Predator or some sort of creature as opposed to a stereotypical vigilante’ or superhero.

Over all it was a truly dark tale and perfectly cast as far as I’m concerned. Am I going to see it again? You bet and hopefully on IMAX, which now seems to be a good way to take another look. And as far as meeting my expectations? It more than did that. It beat my expectations and was well worth the year I’ve been longing to see this film finally DONE RIGHT!

Friday was Brad Altman's BATMAN BEGINS "Gotham" party at CROBAR and it rocked, al little too much at times.

More on all of this later and expect my take of the Un cut Seed Of Chucky DVD review. Trust me, rent or buy this one. It's truly twisted. And Perverse. I laughed my ass off on this one.

Gotta roll baby roll.

I'll spare boring details. Thanks to everyone that is Ranalli's.

It has been nice though. We spent a day at the zoo and then went to Ranalli's and yesterday went to the beach and enjoyed the lake breeze in the 92 degree heat. The water is still cold though and usually stays that way.

I met with Brad Altman at his home on Saturday and we had a good talk. When Jesse comes to town I'll be seeing the Cubs with them and her other porn star friends as well as some people from AVN that Brad and I both know. So needless to say I'm pretty hyped about it.

The Batman Begins party is at Crobar and it is obvious by my Batman obsession since I was 5 years old that I'm be loving that night and according to Brad I have a pair of tickets to the premiere. So I honesty couldn't ask for more.

Other than that Kelly has introduced me to some really cool people and I've been having a pretty good time.

Use your imagination. But you'll never get it right on the money.

And to anyone interested in a little advice. There is an art to talking dirty.