So, I'm back on my sofa (which I offered to at least ten people over the course of the weekend as a place to sleep if they come visit) in lovely ATX. Just thought I'd give a little blow by blow of my first RE experience. Pictures to come tonight ot tomorrow probably. Attendees, feel free to respond to my slanderous comments or tell your own story.

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After a 3 1/2 drive Friday evening, we met up at Ra, a sushi spot sorta near the Galeria. Pretty low-key, saying hi to old friends, meeting some new ones, trying not to let them know that I couldn't hear their names over the restaurant noise lol. Probably 20 ppl there.

After a brief stop off at Wu's, it was up north to Harlem Knights, which made Austin strip clubs look like bingo parlors. Mr Goodbar got a few birthday lap dances, notably one from a woman who most definitely deserved the title "MEGASTRUCTURE". Latenitemix was later heard to say "I heard a clapping sound behind me and just turned around like 'oh..my..god..'" Bonamie couldn't get enough and practically had to be dragged out*.

After that, everybody broke off to wherever they were going...I stayed with Wu that night and found out just how rough she likes it**.

Saturday morning, we loaded up 27 lb of Wu's cookies and headed over to the Magnolia hotel for registration. There, we received a backpack lifetime supply of watermelon chapstick and um...RE t-shirts***.

Then a little soul food at "This Is It" restaurant that brought on an itis so strong that several RE attendees may still be in a coma.

Then we kinda broke off. Marauder(I forget which is which...but...Dave), Kangol, and myself went with Burb on a rainy tour of the 3rd and 5th wards that was disappointingly candy paint-less. On the bright side, Kangol did get some nice photos for his forthcoming coffee table book showcasing cheap motels.

We went to a red door party at El Patio soon after. I've never seen anything like it...a packed dual-level club at 2 PM on a Saturday. And the women. Lord, the women+.

The highlight of Saturday though was the hip hop show @ G.R.A.B., showcasing, most notably, rap quartet "HISD." It was followed by a DJ Burb set that brought on an unprecedented level of crunkitude. I know I'm not the only person there who doesn't remember the last time they danced like that. After a meal in the frozen tundra of the 59 Diner++ and a much-needed shower, I passed out on my bed at the hotel next to Stayls, who hadn't joined us at the 59 Degree Diner.

Everybody seemed a little screwed n' chopped Sunday after that show the night before, so the Burbique out at Burb's lovely Sugar Land house was relatively low key. We had the world's worst Q & A game and a few rounds of Uno for which Bonamie may never forgive me+++. After making Burb come up with four hundred categories for a game of charades, we promptly decided to leave without playing.

Sunday night was karaoke at Spotlight, with Latenitemix being the only OKP I'm aware of that got to sing. That was pretty much it. Said most of my goodbyes there, and after lunch today with Stayls and Kangol, rolled out.

In summary:

- Boo rain. Way to make the best of a bad situaion though.

- I'm pretty sure I beat it into all the committee members' heads while I was there, but I can't stress enough how much I appreciate everything y'all did for us. This was a fantastic event and I'm so happy to have been there.

- Y'all who didn't go...missed out. It was small, probably about 20 attendees in total, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm in no position to criticize, being that I've lasted thru about 5 reunions before this one and never gone. But I will give these things more consideration in the future, and recommend y'all do the same.

- To new friends and old alike, it was nice to meet/see you again, and I hope we meet up again onna these days. Holla at me anytime.

- Come to Austin, suckas. I mean it.

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Footnotes:

* She spent the whole time sitting there making disgusted faces like your mother when you watch R rated movies together.

** She elbowed me in the head several times in her sleep.

*** Not touchin' it.

+ I stand proudly by my city's reputation for high quality females. But Houston is on some whole other shit.

++ It was so cold that the windows were fogging up.

+++ Skip.

www.soul2020.com
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I like it when she rock her hips, then wave and sip.