Living in the Scoot Utopia

Due to a number of unexpected circumstances, last wek's Thursday I ended up getting far more lit at karaoke than I had intended. Extremely lit. So lit, in fact, that for only the second time in my life I got sick from drinking. But I had a pretty good handle on what went down and kept my composure for the most part. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to this week, when I'm sitting at the bar prior to karaoke and the song "Lean On Me" starts playing. "That was fun when we sang that last week," the guy sitting next to me said.

"We sang that?" I asked.

"Yeah, it was the last song of the night," he said.

"I don't remember that at all," I said.

"Oh yeah, that's right," he said as his face lit up with a big smile, "you were totally wasted."

Here is a timeline of the events as I remember them:

1. Around midnight, my friend Nik leaves, mentioning he's heading to The Velvet Dog.
2. A few minutes later, my friend Rob plops down next to me and we chat for about 5-10 minutes and we have a shot.
3. Suddenly I'm at the opposite end of the bar saying bye to Rob, who mentions he's also going to the Velvet Dog.
4. I return to the barstool for a few minutes, and notice that the bar is empty. I start to not feel well and head towards the restroom.
5. I sit on a bench for about a minute, then get very nauseous and run into the restroom.
6. I don't make it in time, and throw up a few feet shy of the toilet.
7. I apologize profusely as my mess gets mopped up seconds later.
8. I'm suddenly at home, throwing up a second time in my bathroom.
9. I wake up Friday morning to go to work.

I have since gotten eyewitness accounts to fill in what were apparently some blanks. With those interviews filling in my missing memories, here's the timeline what actually happened.

1. My friend Nik leaves, not sure what time, mentioning he's heading to The Velvet Dog.
2. Several more people sing. Then, around 12:30am, they call the last song of the night. "Lean On Me". Everyone still at the bar gets up to sing. I sing and dance along towards the back.
3. I go to use the restroom.
4. On my way back from the restroom, I go into the kitchen and proceed to dance for a couple of minutes.
5. I return to my barstool, order one last beer, and close my tab.
6. A few minutes later, my friend Rob plops down next to me and we chat for about an hour and we have a shot.
7. I make another trip to the restroom. As I am returning, I notice a chair that someone has knocked over and I put it back where it belongs.
8. When I get back into the bar area Rob is leaving. I say bye to him, and he mentions he and his gang are going to The Velvet Dog.
9. I exchange text messages with Nik.
10. I return to my barstool and sit staring off into space until finally all the other customers are gone and the bar is closing. But I do not put my head down nor pass out. I'm like this for at least half an hour.
11. I start to not feel well and head towards the restroom.
12. I sit on a bench for about 15 minutes, then get very nauseous and run into the restroom.
13. I don't make it in time, and throw up a few feet shy of the toilet.
14. I apologize profusely as my mess gets mopped up about 10 minutes later.
15. I then continue to apologize for about the next 20 minutes as the bar is shut down. Somehow, I manage to help with closing.
16. I'm given a ride home.
17. 20 seconds into the ride, I mention that I feel sick and am about to throw up. My window gets rolled down so that I can yak out the window.
18. 5 seconds later, I ask why the window is down and complain that it's cold. I never get sick.
19. For most of the ride home I talk about how important it is that my dog gets petted but that if I lean over to pet her I'll tip over.
20. Heading down my street, I notice the brake lights of a car at the end of the block. "Oooo!!! Pretty red lights!!!" I exclaim.
21. When the car is parked, I get out and take off running.
22. I get corralled into my apartment, where I pet my dog and then plop down on the couch.
23. I spend several minutes telling my dog what a pretty, nice dog she is.
24. I feel like I'm going to be sick, head to the bathroom, and stand there for 10 minutes doing nothing.
25. I return to the couch and sit for several minutes staring off into space.
26. I return to the bathroom a second time, stand still for several minutes, then throw up again.
27. I brush my teeth and return to the couch.
28. After several minutes I return to the bathroom, this time disappearing for half an hour. I don't do anything. I'm found sitting on the lid of the toilet staring at the wall with my pants half on and half off.
29. I return to the couch where i sit with a blank expression until around 3:15am before finally going to bed.
30. 2 hours later my alarm goes off for me to go to work.

Yikes! I never want to get that lit again!

Curse me for forgetting that I was drinking 24 oz beers instead of my usual 16 oz beers yet drinking just as many as I normally would.

Curse everyone who put Jaeger shots in front of me.

Curse Nikitra for accidently inventing a new drink packed with a multitude of liquers after I ordered a Black Russian.

Curse me for drinking it anyway.

And, most of all, curse chicken strips. I only wanted to see them once.

Posted by ScooterJ at 11:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I was not going to sing tonight and was just going to have a quick beer and leave. That changed quickly.

I sang three songs I've done many times before: Love Potion Number Nine, Jackson, and Folsom Prison Blues. All three of them are getting considerably better.

One of the two new songs I sang tonight was "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" by David Allen Coe. I had forgotten I turned this one in so was surprised when I went to the microphone and saw it on the screen. I botched the first part of it but once I got into it I think I belted it out pretty well.

The other new song I did tonight was "Alone Again, Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. This, along with two Willy Nelson songs ("Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" and "You Were Always On My Mind") tops my list of the saddest songs I've ever heard. When I started singing this for some reason my voice cracked and would not lock in at the key I needed it to, so I had to jump up an octave and sing it borderline-falsetto. I like this song and want to sing it again but will need to work on geting it into a key I can handle.

Posted by ScooterJ at 01:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I arrived pretty late for karaoke at Winslow's on 12/22, but having just left my company's Christmas party I brought about half of my co-workers and their significant others with me. It was a standing room only crowd but I still managed to get a few songs in. My solo efforts were Elvira, Folsom Prison Blues, and the Elvis version of Here Comes Santa Claus. I also got to do Jackson as a duet, and YMCA and Lean On Me as group efforts with several of my co-workers. One of the regulars was miffed that I got to do all those songs while he only got to do three, but I think it helps when they see that you brought half the night's business in with you. :)

On 12/29 a few of my friends showed up on a night that was already slightly busier than usual: Seth, Shaun, Bev, Aaron, and also my brother Kevin and his wife Angie. This was a lot of fun singing with them and hearing their voices in song. My brother's voice stunned me as his singing voice sounds absolutely nothing like his talking voice.

My 12/29 solo efforts were Elvira, Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, and One Piece At A Time -- which I hadn't done before an I didn't do too well. Again I did Jackson as a duet. Later I did Take Me Home, Country Roads as part of a group.

The highlight though came as the night was winding down. We were mindlessly flipping through the song books when one of us noticed that there were songs listed from The Phantom of The Opera. There was some chuckling about how dorky it would be to sing those songs at karaoke. I was mindlessly tearing a paper towel at the time and tore off a piece that vaguley resembled The Phantom's mask. I quickly ripped out two eye holes, held it to my face, and said "I'm the Phantom of the Opera!"

"Dude, here's five bucks if you sing one of these songs wearing that mask!" said Aaron, laying a fiver on the table.

"Sure, whatever," I said, knowing there'd be no way to get a song in this late.

A moment later Aaron was up talking to the karaoke guy. A few moments later my name was surprisingly called.

I grabbed my mask and some scotch tape and went to the microphone. As I scotch-taped the mask to my face several people began to chuckle.... but then the name of the song I would be singing came up on the screen they got the joke and the chuckling turned to full blown laughter.

So I began singing Music of the Night with this paper towel mask strapped to my face. I started struggling, having not heard it for a while, and also because I forgot it's a duet. Thankfully Shaun came to my rescue and sat himself nearby, grabbed a microphone, and started backing me up. I then serenaded the remainder of the song to him.

After the song was over I jokingly said to Aaron, "Where's my five bucks, bitch?"

"I paid it to the guy to move you to the front of the line," he replied.

Nice. :)

It's really one of those "you had to be there" things, but if you go to Seth's blog you can read his take on the night as well as see a photo of me and my mask.

Tonight I'm going to a NYE karaoke party in KCK. This ought to be an adventure. Details tomorrow!

Posted by ScooterJ at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a two week hiatus from Karaoke (first due to Thanksgiving, then due to the weather), Karaoke finally returned to Winslow's this past Thursday. But because of the bittter cold, only the diehard regulars showed up. This meant we all got to sing a lot of songs. Unfortunately it also meant ending karaoke early due to too few customersso I didn't make it through my whole list.

The repeats I sang were: Elvira and Green Eyeed Lady. I am about to reture Green Eyed Lady. Though it's one of my favorite songs, I cannot sing it woth a damn.

The new songs I sang were Take It Easy, Jackson, and Ring Of Fire. The latter turned out surprisingly well, fit my vocal range perfectly.

We also had mandatory Christmas songs. I assisted with The Chipmunk Song and later had to go solo on Here Comes Santa Claus.

For the final performance of the evening, everyone in the bar came up and we all sang Lean On Me together.

I probably won't get to do much karaoke in December. Next week I won't be getting there until late and if it's a slow night again there's a chance I might miss it. The week after that my company's holiday party falls on karaoke night. And I haven't heard yet if they're going to have it on thee Thursday between Xmas and New Year's.

Posted by ScooterJ at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night I went to karaoke intending to sing just 3 or 4 songs but ended up doing quite a few more. I was congested and didn't feeel like I was at my best on any of them.

The repeats I sang were: Elvira, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Superstition, You're The One That I Want, and Love Potion Number 9.

The new songs I sang were For Whom The Bell Tolls, You Were Always On My Mind, and Stayin' Alive -- which left my throat and lungs exhausted. :)

Evidently a bit of an altercation broke out shortly after I left and security had to be called. That's the second time in the past 3 weeks that I missed seeing something like that.

Posted by ScooterJ at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Almost every Thursday I go down to Winslow's for karaoke. And for those of you who know me well, that must seem totally out of character because one thing you know that I never do is get up in front of a bunch of strangers and do... well... anything.

It was a little slow tonight, perhaps due to everyone celebrating the 17th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, so I was able to get lots of songs in. In fact, tonight set a new record at 10 songs.

On The Road Again - Willie Nelson. Grade: B+. This is one of my favorite songs and one of my staples. I started a little high and so had to crack into falsetto during the chorus.

Hotel California - The Eagles. Grade: B. First time for me -- sang this as a duet with a guy who wanted to sing it but who was skittish about singing it alone.

House of the Rising Sun - The Animals. Grade: B-. I never sang this before but I think I did pretty well. There was a verse or two I wasn't sure were low or high in pitch.

Elvira - The Oak Ridge Boys. Grade: A. This is my signature song and gets better every time I do it. Giddy Up.

Lean On Me - Rascall Flats. Grade: B+. Did this as a trio but I think I did pretty damn well.

Superstitious - Stevie Wonder. Grade: B. This was a new one for me and needs a little work. I didn't exactly channel Stevie but I impressed myself with the energy I put into it.

Peaceful Easy Feeling - The Eagles. Grade: B+. I had meant to put in "Take It Easy" but skipped a line while writing my entry. That's ok, this is a pleasant mellow song that I love. I think I did pretty well.

Love Shack - The B-52s. Grade: A. I LOVE doing this song, it is so much fun. Works best as a trio but I had to do it as a duet tonight.

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain - Willie Nelson. Grade: A- This sweet, sad song is one of my faves. I started slightly high, forcing my voice to crack in the chorus.

You're The One That I Want- Olivia Newton John & John Travolta. Grade: A-. The last time I sang this was 1999. Another fun one to sing.

Got 5 new songs in tonight, gonna shoot for 2 or 3 more new songs next week.

Posted by ScooterJ at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Almost every Thursday I go down to Winslow's for karaoke. And for those of you who know me well, that must seem totally out of character because one thing you know that I never do is get up in front of a bunch of strangers and do... well... anything.

Last Thursday was a slow night so I managed to get 8 songs in. A couple of days later I got to thinking that I ought to start listing the songs I sing each week.

Tonight was beyond a full house, the place was standing room only. Because it was so busy I only put my name in for 3 songs and only ended up singing 2 of them.

Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf. Grade: D. I've only sung this song once before. I need to remember that if I am singing something I haven't done a lot before, I need to do it later in the night when I have more liquor in me to calm my nerves. I was shaking and my voice was all over the scale on this one, unable to choose a key I was comfortable with. At one point I even had to go into falsetto. This is one of my favorite songs, I need to work on it some more if I'm going to sing it.

Love Potion Number Nine - The Searchers. Grade: B+. This is another song I've only sung once before but I did much better on this one. I managed to stay in key, but I'm not giving it an A because I was a little low in pitch and was late in starting.

I had intended to also sing Love Shack by the B-52s but pulled it back because I was short on time tonight. Coincidentally, shortly after I pulled it back, someone else sang it.

Next week I think I may go for some Metallica.

Posted by ScooterJ at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)