New Years Eve!

New Years!
While home may be the best place to spend Christmas, I sure don’t want to spend new years at my childhood home! I live in New York and let’s face it; nobody can hold a candle to New York for New Years Eve. Because of my touring schedule, I can’t remember the last time I spent New Years in NYC so I was determined to make this one count.
The best New Years I ever had was in Osaka Japan. I saw Dir En Grey, then DJed at Rock Rock with my friends Yoko, Keiko, Harry and host of others. We didn’t sleep for 2 days and ended up taking the bullet train to Tokyo to see Jack’s haunted mansion at Tokyo Disney. I don’t think I’ll ever top that one. But, I was ready to welcome 2009 with open arms and was determined to paint the town dead!
2009 is going to be all about growth and change. 2008 I did a lot of things I never imagined I would do, but, 2009 will be different. I want to challenge myself in creative, spiritual and cerebral ways. While I am great at writing about my trials, travesties and travels, I’m not great with photos. I deiced to work on that by documenting my New Years Eve.

I started getting ready and let Dante, my cat, pick the ‘getting ready’ music.
Photo 2 is Dante, my cat rockin’ out to Santagold. He picked it. He thought it was good, ‘Shake your tail’ music to get dressed to.
Getting ready was pretty easy. I had my ‘fuck me’ shoes all planed out well in advance. Now, girls know what ‘fuck me’ shoes are. Guys, get a pair! Of shoes that is…Ironically, mine I got on the previously mentioned trip to Japan. As soon as I put those suckers on I understood what girls meant by what a pair of sexy shoes can do for you. And after I wore them while walking around the city all night I REALLY understood why they are called ‘fuck me shoes’. Cuz after 2 hours you’re saying, ‘Fuck Me my feet hurt!’
Photo 3 is my first ensemble (that’s a Mariah Carey reference…anyone remember Cribs with her-WASTED! I’m sure it’s on YouTube..).
Sailed down into the subway and headed to my first stop. A silent meditation in Union Square. Yep, you read right. Ha,ha..Pulled a fast one on you there didn’t I!
And no, I’ve never done this before either! But sticking true my determination to make some changes and challenge myself as I said.
The meditation was amazing. From the outside it was just a normal NYC building, but once the elevator doors opened it was a world away from NYC. The doors opened and the smell of incense hung heavy in the dark air. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the low candle lit room as I stepped out of the elevator. But I remember clearly, they’re being a beautiful Indian woman dressed in all white saris lighting candles. It was hard for me to get my bearings and my head around the fact that it was a silent meditation. No one was talking. I walked around a little a saw rooms full of people meditating. Some in serious zazen positions, others, just reading books or writing in journals. The room I went into was a large with maybe 500 people in it and was light by candles and had a huge Buddha shrine in the corner.
As soon as I sat down 2 things became apparent. 1-‘Fuck Me Shoes” and Stretch jeans are no good for sitting still on the floor. 2- the vibrations of all the people in the room were radiating and felt as though they could knock you over. I sat for an hour, writing and reading. It was amazing.
Photo 4 is the reality of NYC on New Years. 11 O'clock and the tourists are already wasted and can't figure out that when the 'Off Duty' light is on, the taxi won't pull over. These clowns got lucky...
From there I headed to Soho to meet up with friends at a dance for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. Man, it was fuckin’ insane! Awesome lights, DJ’s and the ceiling was covered in netted balloons waiting patiently for the 12 O’clock drop. And when it finally did, I was lucky enough to have found my crew and be with those I love. By 12:30, it was time to head had to the ‘Burning Angel’ New Years party.
For those that don’t know, ‘Burning Angel’ is a porn site specifically for ‘alternative models’. Meaning hot tattooed rocker chicks. Normally this would be right up my alley, but tonight I had mixed feelings about going. I’m glad I went thought, the party was fuckin’ nuts! Go-go boys (photo 5!) and girls everywhere dancing on the bars and everyone seemed to be having a great time! But the down side was that it was so packed, I couldn’t connect with friends I had there. I ran into some other people I knew and we checked out some awesome bands. But, by 1:30, the good had gone from bad to ugly. The only thing worse then superficial self-seeking namedroppers, is drunken superficial self-seeking namedroppers. It’s cute and funny in moderation just like anything, but I really wanted to be with those who have been close to me. So back to Sotho where we all hung out till the wee hours laughing and lamenting about what a great year we are sure to have this year.
So there you have it! Meditating with the Yogi’s! Dancing with the Drunks! Swinging with the Swingers and ending my night with new years kiss from my best friend (photo 6)! Fuck Fear and Fuck 2008! ~