Okay, So the original idea was supposed to be updating about things that actually happen in my life. And I guess the internet, while certainly a part of my life, is kinda cheating. Besides, shit actually went down recently so It might be worthwhile to type about for a bit.
So this weekend was Mardi-Gras weekend. In the real world, this means neither jack nor shit. But In 'Nawlins and various stupid college towns, it's better than Christmas. I was feeling rather bored and stupid, so I decided that I'd party slightly with a couple of my friends I don't see that often. Not only does this allow me to avoid the normal Mardi-grasness, it's entertaining as well. And before I have to put up with any shit, I didn't even buy beads, and never have. I scooped a couple off the ground just so I wouldn't look like a total ass, but that's about as Mardi-Gras as I got. The night started out auspiciously, I had to help out a 6'4", 230 lbs drunk who'd lost his sandals in the mud and in his bare feet had fallen on rocks and busted up his face.
So anyway, I was wandering from a friend's house to Joe's. I'd heard that California street was really crazy (apparently they'd called in a police chopper to watch the street) and thought it might be funny to watch from Joe's porch. But as I crossed the railroad tracks it looked suspiciously calm, there was no crowd and the people who were there seemed to be leaving. But as soon as I crossed the street like 5 police cruisers suddenly lit up and starting driving towards me. Like any sensible person, I got out of their way and rushed over to Joe's. As I approach there's like 6 people crawling on Joe's porch and they all scream at me "TRAVIS GET THE FUCK DOWN! YOU'RE GONNA GET SHOT!" Joe's face is beet red and he looks like he just stopped crying. Turns out the street was so empty because the riot cops had just gone Waco on a mob that had consumed the block until about 5 minutes before I showed up. I'd managed to show up as the cops retreated or something to start sweeping up the street, which is what those police cruisers were doing. They also apparently raided the frat house next door and sprayed down the whole place for good measure. So says the girl in my class who got maced for hiding in their laundry room.
I hid inside Joe's house and found out why he'd been crying. Joe had managed to get maced in the face by a riot cop while standing in his door! The whole house smelled like pepper spray and everyone kept coughing. So I spent the next 20 minutes talking about riot cops and telling a dude named G-bang that I WILL NOT gut punch him nor box his ass, bitch. Aside from that, we talked/coughed about the night. I found out that Joe had incited a mob to kick a hole in a fence that I myself had used to get around earlier in the night (he's so civic minded). I went out to the porch and watched the dudes with riot armor and shotguns laser anyone crossing the street (they were using pepper spray for the most part, a couple guys were using beanbags, but not too much). It was fun to watch that for a while, but then Joe's roomie Zack started talking about fireworks and "showing those bitches how snipers do it" and loosening the screen over his window. I decided sticking around was a good way to get myself maced, so it was time to leave. I snuck around the edge of the building, hopped a wall (I think I busted a button on my nice jacket doing that) and got far enough away that the cops wouldn't spray on sight. I was hoping the cops might go bust up other parties so I spent another hour sneaking my way to other hotspots (utilizing Joe's wonderful hole in the wall), but alas there was no more riot control to see. I bid the officers a good night as I passed the riot checkpoint on my way home and called it a night (morning actually, but who's counting).
Wow, that turned out way long for a simple "friend got maced in the face" story. Apparently I like to hear myself type. Damn, wish I'd had a camera.
