“I’m Neil and That’s Not a Command”

To celebrate my 50th birthday (hence the change to our blog subhead – we’re no longer “40-something”; we’re “40-plus”), the girls and I went to Athos in Guilderland and out to see our friend’s band at the Tap and Tea Room. We certainly met some interesting characters but none in our sweet spot (normal).

Athos
CK: I had heard from a former fellow Pop Warner cheer mom that Athos Greek restaurant was a great hangout for men our age. She told me she met a great, good looking guy our age there and things were going well. For her, that meant the relationship was in its second week, but hey, some women wear their desire for a relationship on their sleeve. Anyway, we ran into my old high school friend JA who was there for a big bachelor party. Other than that group of undesirables, there was nothing going on at Athos. The owner told us to come back when they have a live band and Greek dancing. We may go back, but more for the fried cheese than the male prospects!
DT: Didn't seem as though most were there to meet new people - a few small groups of people (couples or friends) who pretty much kept to themselves. Who knows what actually went on in the back-room bachelor party, but I suspect not much. Not recommended, in spite of the fried cheese. The bartender, I should note, was friendly, humorous and accommodating . . . but married I am told.

Tap and Tea Room
CK: The Tern Rounders, a “roots rock” band was playing at the Tap and Tea Room. We have a friend in that band so we thought it preferable to the Big Fat Greek Nothing. The crowd at the T and T seemed to be mostly friends or family members of the band. DT and LM provided a bit of a sideshow and we managed to attract the attention of Neil, the author of the worst (or possibly the best) pick-up line in history: “I’m Neil and that’s not a command.” He’s a challenge to describe but I’ll try. He’s 40 and owns his own cleaning business, he has two teen-aged children in Colorado, he seemed to be very coked up and hyper, and probably most relevant, his friend (the best hairdresser in Albany) told us he’s gay but doesn’t know it. Apparently Neil’s story that his 24-year old girlfriend was jealous when she caught him making out with her 21-year old friend translated to his one tranny was jealous of his other tranny. I took his number for future reference.
DT: Until this night I thought Jean Paul was the best hairdresser in Albany, but apparently not the case. Neil offered quite a bit of entertainment, in a pathetic what-must-his-childhood-have-been-like kind of way. His elderly friend (sugar daddy?) was interesting, but someone should tell him that no matter how interesting a man is or how otherwise inspiring his conversation, ill-fitting, clicking dentures are just too much of a distraction. The man who intended to read (1776) at the bar didn't seem to be doing much of that, and was friendly but appeared in pain to muster the effort. The band was thoroughly enjoyable. There appeared to be a few prospects our age but I guess they were shy -- or perhaps put off by our sideshow or the fact that we befriended the tranny-lover. And what's up with women biting your head off because you try, perhaps a bit to earnestly, to enter the ladies room when they are in there. Something like, in a screech, "some people wash their hands you know!" Is it my fault that her date was in a wheelchair and on oxygen? I think not. Why take it out on me? All in all some good prospects and mostly friendly people. The bartenders aren't the friendliest or most responsive, but hey, give it a try.

Our lady friend "L" headed to the Ramada for an old-school R&B party, but the word is out on that event. We headed home, our heads spinning over the tranny-lovers trials and tribulations. We'll have to ask her for a blog entry!