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August

August 5, 2003

I feel like a sportswriter - the days are just slower in August. I'm going to start making up stories in a minute... July was real fresh, very busy. Naked Lunch is still the place to be on Wednesdays and I hope to add some musical trickeries this month. I also have some cool events on the horizon, but not all will make the calendar, so look for the e-mails... I've been bordering on burnout with music and desperately needing a break from the tables. Hopefully, I can take a little time off before the summer ends. But, it's given me some time to be a little more reflective, as you will see below... Oh, an announcement: I am giving up on the Knicks. They've obviously given up, so why not? I'll wait 'til Jalen goes to high school - they should be good by then...

Birfday shouts to my main man C-Rock, Julia Isobel, Kim (that's Jalen's mommy), Cricket, Rich, Naim, John, and anyone I missed! And, happy anniversary Eric and Joanna!

- The V's

"Reflections Internal"

Between rainy days and "just-too-damn-hot" days, I've spent a little more time indoors recently. I've been thinking hard about this month's statement, about what I should write and what style. You know what keeps popping into my thoughts? The people. All of the random folks and meetings I've had over the past few years. I'll give you a hard time about making a request, but I can't stand being trapped in a booth away from the party. Now, don't let me write that and all you read is, "Oh, so I can make my ABBA request now!" I'm just saying - those faces and encounters have meant a lot to me...

One of my favorites was at the W. Hotel when a European waiter came up to me with a program in his hand and asked, "Who is Fan Faadder?" Who? Oh, you mean Van Vader! That's me... "Yes, Fan Faadder - in my language, it means 'From Father.'" Wait a minute - you mean my name means "From the Father," like I'm heaven sent?! Boy, you shouldn't 'a told me that...

There have been some real interesting characters, too. How about the bouncer who was 6'4", 350lbs. and they called him Tiny? What was interesting about him you ask? Brother is a Registered Nurse... You go boy... Or, recently, some girl came up to me and asked me if I knew "the birthday song that goes something like 'Go shorty!'" (I stress "recently"). I told her no, and asked her to sing it for me - which she did. I even called over a friend to see if he could recognize it and she sang it again... Hey, I gotta have some fun, too, right?

I've been lucky enough to meet some famous people, as well. That's cool and all, but I prefer meeting the not-so famous, famous folks. Like, it was cool to meet Michael Strahan - but, is he cooler than "Ask Asa" from NBC News? Marc Anthony was a real chill dude, but how many people can say they met Straffe, the guy who recorded, "Set It Off"?! ("Y'all want this party started, right?!") And, you can't tell me that having Nick Nolte roll in to one of your parties isn't at least interesting...

The staffs have always been bright spots for me. It's always cool getting compliments from them since they tend to hear me (and a lot of DJ's) consistently. And, with the exception of Don from Scharmann's (who only asked, "Isn't your brother coming tonight?"), they have expressed appreciation for my sets in different ways. There was the bartender at Spread who almost lit the ceiling ablaze when he said, "This is for you" and spit fire from his mouth... Or, the owner's nephew at Rubber Monkey who told me, "Son, I've heard a lot of DJ's spin... You spin LARGE!" But, I think my favorite was Zee, the bartender downstairs at RM who sent me a message on a napkin that read, "You do not disappoint." Can't tell you how motivating that is when I just don't think I have it in me (I keep it with me)... You all keep me going - Thanks, y'all.