My Tick-Tock Adventure

This was too big to post in a Facebook message, so here we are! I hope everyone enjoys it!

Introduction: My name is Derek King, and 9 days ago, my girlfriend and I broke up. It's been rough, but thanks to my friends here at St. Lawrence, and my friends from home, I've felt pretty good. I'd like to thank you all for being a part of making the past 9 days so much easier than they could have been.

Alright, so, here's my story for tonight. Earlier this week, I had heard about how the local bar/nightclub was having a charity event to raise money for Haiti. I have never been to the "Tick-Tock," and everything I had heard about it just made me happier and happier that I hadn't.

Well, that was before I found myself alone in my single for hours on end, playing bejeweled at a level that Ryan Crowley alone achieves (home inside joke, sorry SLUers!). It's been miserable. So, I decided to shake things up, and when I heard one of my friends say that they would be going to the Tick-Tock, I told them I would like to join them.

This is a big deal. The Tick-Tock is essentially "The Club" here in Canton, NY, and essentially it's a restruant/bar, that opens up it's back room on Thursday-Saturday nights at Midnight, so the local kids/students can have some fun. If you go to St. Lawrence, you have to venture to the Ticker at some point in your education, no matter what you hear about it. In my case, I had heard it was disgusting, especially the bathrooms, and that the only way to go, is to go belligerently drunk.

Well, I was going to the Tick-Tock, and I had no intention of getting shit-faced. When I told my friend Cameron Lownie about my plans he told me, "Your first time. Wow, if only there was some way to like... live blog this or something." I laughed, but it struck me that this could be quite fun; my phone is not internet-accessible, but it does text. I decided I would have a "Tick-Tock-Text-Blog" updating my friends on how the night went, and I would chronicle them in a facebook message later on.

Hence this. Friends from home: I did consume more alcohol than I have ever consumed before, so this is my disclaimer, I guess. I just wanted to share my story with you as well, because I'm an attention seeking whore.

On with the night...

This was me introducing my plan to everyone:

10:54PM Sat, February 6- Multiple recipients:

Dear friends, tonight I'm going to embark on a unique slu experien: my first trip to the tick-tock. upon hearing this, my good friend cam lownie

10:58PM '''''''

said 'if only there was a way for you to live blog this event.' i have figured out a compromise: tick-tock-text blog. Ill text updates to anyone who wants

10:59PM """""

and include everything in a facebook post tomorrow my texts and your responses.

Before I had even finished, I was receiving texts. Mike Cianca! In the rush of things, as well as my own miscoordination, I did not read your text, so I feel bad having left you out. Here were the initial responses…

10:54 PM”””””FR: James Racette:

Don’t do it Derek it is too much too soon

10:58pm “”””””” FR : Jeannine Condon

Me me me!!

10:58PM FR : James Racette

Haha java is sweet if the tic toc blows walk back here

10:59pm Fr: Tim Beaupre

Add me to the list!

10:59pm Fr: Emily Wescott

Hahaha ill be hereee!!

11:00pm Fr: Ryan Walsh

Derek. I will most likely be at the tick tock with you

The girls I would be going with called me and told me to come over and wait with them. While there, we talked for a bit, and one of them essentially force fed me booze. I had already drunk a pretty strong rum a coke, and this individual stood in front of me, and kept pouring me more and more. It was not that much, probably around 3.5-5 shots, at most.

11:38PM '''''''' TO: ALL

I've just taken about 5 shots in the last 15 minutes. From what everyone says, this will make tick-tock bearable.

I also tried to send this message:

11:18pm To ALL

The two girls im going with, both are wearing stockings, and one is wearing a blue sequined dress, grace potter style. I feel underdressed.

They were ready to go, and at that point, before the alcohol, I was thoroughly unenthusiastic.

We left shortly after, and on the way, things began to distort themselves. It didn’t feel much different than being pretty tired. Just it affected my motor skills more than my mind. Still is a little bit now, but that may be more of the tired. Also, there was a little argument between my friends who were bringing me along

11:47PM """"" TO: ALL

Mission tik-tock starting bad. my escotes began fighting. The ground is less stable. Its cold. I'm glad I'm not wearing a dress and tights right now.

11:48pm FR: _________

Are you with ____ and ____?

11:50PM """""TO: ______

Bah, ______. Its confidentiality right now. But yes. I feel bad. They're a little drunk. I'm a little drunk. Or at least more drunk then ever

They made up and I was really glad. I knew both of them really need each other, and it was kind of a stupid argument (just saying!), but I feel like it was exacerbated by the cold, the walk, and the alcohol. They got to the “club” alright though, and quickly seemed to forget their troubles.

12:02AM Sun, Feb 7 TO: ALL

I'm in, the alchol has completely kicked in. It also helps wit hteh disorientation im feeling. So far not bad. Also not full. We got here 1155, $3 go 2 haiti

12:04am FR: Cam Lownie

Singlehandedly, you are dtunkenly saving Haiti. Kudos. Java’s fuckin sweet thnugh

The Ticker wasn’t as bad as everyone said, at least not at the beginning. It was a little sketch, the whole converted restaurant thing, but overall, it wasn’t as grungy as everyone said. I didn’t use the bathroom however, and that converted kitchen did have “abandoned factory where people get murdered in films” feel to it.

12:10AM """"""""To: ALL

Observation one: Lowering of inhibitions is def true. Just saw two girls pressed against the wall...by other girls. I'm surprisingly having fun.

12:11am Fr: ________

You’d hjve more fun if YOU JOINED THEM!!

12:12am Fr: ________

GET IN ON THAT!

Oddly enough, I was having so much fun dancing by myself, that I really didn’t care whether or not I was not currently being raped against the wall by the women of tic-tock. I had always thought alcohol was stupid, that I was a very happy person without it. I still believe it, but I never thought that it would make me happy enough to enjoy the place I was.

Saw someone who I hadn’t seen all semester. For all the jokes I make about her “mating” practices, it is sort of ironic that the first time I would see her is at the Ticker.

12:29AM """"""" To All

I had my first dance, with _______. Go figure id finally catch up her at the tik-tock! As soon as this buzz is gone, im gone. but right now, this is fun

12:29am Fr: Ryan Walsh

Hahahahahahaha no way

After a while, I began to realize why everyone said you needed to be drunk to enjoy the place.

12:42AM """"""To: ALL

Ok, claustrophobia sitting in. Woah, without alchohal this would blow

12:46 am Fr: Cam Lownie

Luckily, you had 5 shots in 15 minutes

True dat, Cam Lownie, true dat.

Finally, it was a bit too much for me. The discomfort was really settling in.

12:47AM """"To All

Thhis is less dancing than jostling. I was once the donut hole of a man circle. I felt uncomfortable

I was leaving, but went back in to the dance floor to find at least one of the girls I had come with. I knew they could fend for themselves, but I wanted to let them know I was heading out. I found one, but I had already sent this text.

1:13AM """" To friend who invited me.

I'm leaving. Less drunk, more claustrophobic Have a great night!

I wrote this as I was leaving the Ticker, on my way back to SLU:

1:14AM """""To ALL

Final Observations: tik-tock is very fun early on when youre still buzzed, and can find friends. Later on, when youre more cognizant, it blows, and people smel

1:15AM"""""To All

I did get a few dances, but that wasn't what I was after: just a distraction. Surprised how many other cas were there. Surprised at home many people i knew

1:16AM"""""To All

Overall, very fun for the first hour. Leaving now before its not so fun. Java here I come.

And, Cam, being very civil:

1:15 am Fr:Cam Lownie

You probably smell too, you unbathed yeti.

1:24am""""To Cam

I showrred thank you. Ahole.

Finally, as I reached SLU, I wanted to extend a final thanks to the ladies I went with tonight. I felt that if they needed it, seeing how they were dressed, they should call me to pick them up. I was feeling pretty sober walking in the cold. Now that I’m back, I’m glad they didn’t call, for their own safety as well as mine. It didn’t really come out as much of a thank you though.

1:29am"""""""To the incredible ladies who invited me with them

Be careful walking back. If its too cold to walk, lemme know. Neither of you are dressed well, and im sobering up quick.

So, I came back, went to Java, listened to music for a while, and here I am, writing this all down. My first Tick-tock-body-rock, and serious buzz-fest. It was actually pretty fun. But, here I am, at 3:22 AM. It’s time for bed. I want to thank you all for this opportunity to share, and feel free to comment on this.

Final Final thoughts: Tick-Tock gets a bad rep. It’s really exciting to see people you know, whether their colleagues, friends, or (ugh, too many of this one) residents. It did help a lot being influenced by alcohol, but again, that’s only an assister to the mindset necessary for that place. An open mind, and wanting to have fun is more important, because if you have any reservations, the pushing, elbowing, and near constant dry-humping from all-angles will drive you nuts.

I still think that Java is the place for me though. More room to spread out, and a lot easier to get out of. If a fire started in Tick-Tock, everyone would be fucked. And, there were too many times when I’d open my eyes, realize I was surrounded by dudes, and have to push my way out. I may not be looking for any action right now, but I also know what kind of action I would want, and it doesn’t involve circling the wagons.

Anyways, thank you all for participating in my little experience. You all have been exceptionally helpful in making the past week bearable, and being able to write this has helped me even more.