A few days... Eric's last night

When I started playing at 8, some drunk ladies were hassling me about not knowing songs they requested. They requested a lot of older country music, which isn’t my style at all.. So I didn’t feel bad saying I didn’t have them. They eventually left and I just did my set until 9, where I went and sat and talked with Maria for a bit. Then some future car show on the Discovery channel in the break room.
My second set was quiet, and uneventful. I went down to the mess and ate some noodles, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (Haven’t had one of those since Delaware,) and a tiny bit of icecream. I went back up and played another set. Stu stopped by and asked for me to play “Say it Ain’t So” by Weezer. Afterwards he told me he wasn’t coming up to check on me just to check on me. He really liked my music and thinks I’m really awesome.He said he’d buy a couple CDs in the coming days.
I took a break and talked with a couple that had been out to see me a couple times. We talked about my career choices and school and all that stuff.
Afterwards, I went to my room to drop off my computer. I bumped into Eric, who was looking to get the girl he liked down to his room. I told him I was going to the party to tell Michelle happy birthday.
I went to the crew bar because she said that’s where they’d be, and sure enough, Michelle, Rezalee, and Michael were there. As the night progressed the whole casino staff was there. Lots of pictures were taken. Michelle was turning 35. I couldn’t believe it! She doesn’t look a day over 25! I talked with Ruxandra and Rezalee the most.
After a couple hours, I was getting tired and decided to go to bed.. Got class in the morning!


The next day, we had class out on deck. We witnessed the lowering of a lifeboat. At one point there was a technical difficulty and the boat jerked back and forth throwing the guy inside around, and the guy outside lost his hard hat. Pretty crazy stuff. Made it a little more real for me.
I went back to my room and worked more on the cartoon. I had my meals and kept low until 4:30. I went up on Lido and set up and got playing for my hour. The crowd was very receptive and I had a great time. I played mostly 60’s and 70’s music. An older lady came to me and told me she knew all the songs but could never understand the words but I sang so clearly she could understand everything and she thanked me for that.
After playing I dropped my stuff off and ate dinner with Eric, Thomas and Claire... then it was just Eric and I. He and I talked about the stuff that went on the night before. Which apparently nothing did. He went to her (Lauren) room, but lots of little things went down where nothing but making out happened.
After dinner, I went and played 9-1. I had a good time, thought it was kind of dead. I’ve been feeling kind of out of it lately. Not much of an audience...
When I was done with my gig, I went to my room to go to sleep, but a knock at the door came. It was Eric, who needed my assistance with his girl.
So we all went up for some pizza. We talked about lots of stuff. We decided that Lauren was the girl version of me. She’s real down to earth, and had Eric’s and my personality. Lots of “that’s what she said” jokes. Cool girl. We were up late and I helped get them to their destination.

The next morning we had an hour and a half of class. I was very VERY tired. So when I got back to my room, I planned to take an hour and a half nap and meet Glenn for lunch to talk about our show. Unfortunately I was so tired, I slept until 3. I felt great for it though. I just worked on the show more. Drew more characters and sets. Played 8-1 and then Eric,Lauren and I did the same tango as the night before. Though, my steelers played the Broncos last night, and the Steelers KICKED ASS. We won 28-10. I managed to watch the first half before work, and finish the 4th quarter during my break.

Today, I woke up at 8:50 and went to class. We finished the book, and I came back to my room and continued more on the cartoon and watched more of The Office. I managed to talk with Eric, and he called to tell me he did the practical joke I asked him to do to Lauren. He called her by my name.. Haha... In the right context it’s funny. It’s sad because this is his last night on the ship. So I told him we had to hang out during breaks and at the end of the night.
I did my first hour, which I felt very upbeat and into the music, which showed because people got into it. On my break I went up to see Eric in the piano bar. His bar was pretty busy. I sat with Lauren and her friend. Her and I talked about some various things, my album, and such. Eric announced over the mic he would come hang out with me in a moment. Everyone assumed we were gay. But believe me.. that’s not the case. Not after what I helped him through yesterday for Lauren.
I played my second hour and it was a bit better. Then I made my way back to the Piano bar, and sat with Lauren again. Then Eric came over and we chatted about various stuff.
Then I did my last couple sets. At the end of my last set, Eric and Lauren came to watch me. I sold 3 CDs tonight. I did all of Eric’s requests, since he’s leaving. Then we all went up and ate pizza, and I showed Lauren some of the cartoon, and stuff.
We all said our goodbyes on the 1st floor. I announced it was kind of sad, because it’s all like this is a dream, because tomorrow, they’ll both be gone, and I’ll be on my own again. I won’t be up to meeting new people at this point because I have school to focus on in the coming months.
Eric came to the room and we said our goodbyes, and got the business cards, and we both said we’d stay in touch. I’d definitely call him for a tour.
And now... I’m going to get an hour sleep before Immigration. San Diego day!