mizChartreuse!

Today was one of THOSE mornings.

You know, when you wake up way late and realize you’re probably STILL a little drunk from the night before, and the hangover only starts to seep in after you’ve been awake a few hours.

But last night’s antics were worth it. Let’s just say the evening started off with me drinking Jager bombs out of a measuring cup.

Yesterday I went up to Roger’s Park to do some work in the studio with my biz partner, producer Zack Crawford.

**

I must preface this by explaining that we’ve known each other for YEARS and I’ve always thought of him just as my friend Candace’s triflin’ little brother. I never took him seriously when he’d tell me about his musical endeavors, but, he’s grown up and is self-made mad successful producing tracks for recording artists.

For example: I trust you’ve heard that annoying Jamie Foxx song “Blame it on the A-a-a-a-a-alcohol”? He produced it in its first stages and now there’s no escape from it on the airwaves. I can’t stand that song, but I give him props for developing it. Zack has also worked with Lupe Fiasco, Puff Daddy, Sony BMG artists and a plethora of other notable stars. In addition to producing, he also records new up and coming artists in his two studios and shops them to labels via his connections.  So when he approached me last year, asking me to do all the creative writing for his clients, I couldn’t say no.

**

Yesterday at the studio I met Laura and Marian, two incredibly talented aspiring singers. They stood in front of us and sang a few songs both a capella and over some instrumental tracks…and let me tell you: these girls are going to make it BIG. I’m very excited to start working with them as they embark on their respective career journies.

I also met Drew Correa, a former engineer and current producer who is in town from Miami. I didn’t know what he did at first; he was just a tall skinny white dude in a black t-shirt, jeans, and Converse.

You may recognize his work on a lil’ record called Tha Carter III. Most notably, he produced “Mr. Carter,” the hot Lil’ Wayne track featuring Jay-Z, which earned Drew a Grammy award. “Prom Queen,” from Weezy Baby’s Rebirth record, was also created by Drew. Gym Class Heroes, Lupe Fiasco, Rick Ross, any Nappy Boy artist…you name it, he’s worked with them. He played us several tracks for Travis McCoy’s new solo project–the shit is hot FIRE.

The cool thing is, for all his accomplishments, he’s one the most chill, laid back, fun people I’ve met.

**

Anyhow, after we took care of the business aspects of the night, we decided to go out for some sushi. “Shots, everyone? Shots?” Zack asked us. He went to his fridge and pulled out shitloads of alcohol — Bacardi, Jager, vodka, Miller Genuine Drafts, a bottle of merlot…but couldn’t find ANY CUPS ANYWHERE. There were literally none in his cupboard, and I was like, “What the hell, Zack. How hood can you get?” When he pulls stuff like that, I’m just like, “Yep, that’s Candace’s little brother.”

Laura drank wine out of a small, round Tupperware container.

Marian drank her rum in a small glass mug.

Zack poured some lime Bacardi into an old water bottle.

Drew poured his liquor into a plastic black container that was definitely once a sushi carryout container.

And as I said before, I drank my huge Jager bomb out of a measuring cup.

Hood. As. Hell. Hilarious.

**

We piled into Zack’s car and drove down the few blocks to our usual spot, the Indie Cafe on Broadway. My God, I love that place.

We walked up the sidewalk to the restaurant, and suddenly Zack and I stopped dead in our tracks.

“Do you smell that?” We both said. It could be none other than some real green from Mother Earth. There were a handful of people walking the other direction down the street…SOMEONE had some of that yum yum green goodness.

“Hey!” Drew and Zack yelled. “Who’s got it?” A couple in their 50s turned around and waved at us from halfway down the block. Not who we were expecting!

Without missing a beat, I sprinted down the sidewalk, glad that they were gonna share the wealth. The man handed me a nice-sized roach, and told me to keep it. The couple continued on down the street.

I ran back up to my rejoicing friends and we all partook in the remaining smokey treat as we walked up to the restaurant. This was in daylight, around 7:30 p.m.

“Did that seriously just happen?” I asked, rhetorically. “I love how things work out!” We had all been discussing how we were craving some green goodness just fifteen minutes earlier.

Ask and you shall receive!

**

Dinner was great. Nobody looked at the menu; Zack frequents the place often enough and recited to our server his laundry list of the great staples Indie’s has to offer, and we all shared and sampled everything.

Several dishes of edamame, gyoza, miso soup, nigiri, maki, dragon and alligator rolls later, we were STUFFED. Indie’s doesn’t serve alcohol, but we were still all a little buzzed from our copious pre-gaming and the subsequent green session. We basically shoved our faces and laughed our asses off the entire time. Drew was very sweet to take care of everything for us, and we headed back up toward the studio.

I was very satisfied in how everything worked out for International Sushi Day.

Everyone else was set to hang out some more; I had to meet up with The Boy and his coworkers, who were celebrating their softball win at Bowman’s in Lincoln Square. Their softball team is called the Xpos (after their comany name, inXpo), and I easily spotted the group in their bright green t-shirts in the back corner.

I seriously love Sean’s coworkers–all fun people in their 20s and 30s whom I have come to adore over the last several months. After making the rounds and greeting everyone with hugs, I met one of the company’s owners; Drew I believe was his name. “She doesn’t have a drink!” He told Sean. “Do something about that!” I was immediately handed a bottle. Fab.

The special thing about this particular after-softball celebration was the fact that Drew was taking care of our entire tab. Imagine how much 40 people can drink over the course of several hours, especially when it’s free.

It was pretty ridiculous. Buckets of beer constantly being delivered to the group; shots of whiskey, vodka, and SoCo lime coming one after another…

There’s even video footage of the two owners, very cool guys in their 50s, doing the Xpos Team Cheer.

Insanity.

**

Sean and I got back to my home around 2 a.m., both our phone batteries nearly dead, and passed out in my king-sized bed.

We woke up with a start. Well, I woke up to Sean going, “Shit. Shit. Shit. I overslept.” It was 10:00. Sean had been scheduled on a conference call for 9 a.m. Seriously–who schedules 9 a.m. calls the morning after a softball celebration?

Anyhow, it was okay that he missed the call. We drove together to his office so I could borrow his car for the day. “Damn, I’m still drunk,” he said. I concurred.

Sean took a huge swig from the water bottle in the center console. He almost gagged. “What the hell IS that?” He demanded.

I couldn’t speak. I laughed my ass off.

“Why would you have PURE VODKA in a water bottle?”

I laughed my ass off. “It’s not pure vodka; there’s a tiny bit of tonic in there,” I explained.

“Good Lord. I’m driving to work, late, still tipsy from last night; that is probably NOT what I needed!”

I laughed my ass off.

**

My hangover headache kicked in around noon, but I remedied it with some Hot ‘N’ Ready. Works every time.

Last night was fun. And tonight is Team Building at Duffy’s. Getting ready to do it all over again…Triple F style.

Sure, I often fall victim to the cycle of party all night, be useless all the next day, repeat. Hey. It’s summer in the city. This is the only right way to do it.

I love my ridiculously fun life.