2001-12-19 | 7:08 p.m.

corduroy licorice was a bald-faced liar. he always shaved before fibbing.

***

i got to meet to pete! woohoo for moi!

i shook his hand and everything!

i would say i'd never wash that hand again, except my OCD makes that logistically impossible.

the show was a blast and three-quarters. he's written some really satisfying pop/rock songs, has a great voice and his band, self-nicknamed "dirty bird," is a tight ensemble of extremely talented musicians. mad props to t and j! you guys rock, literally!

my friend k-girl is married to t, so she was able to get me on the VIP list. it was quite a thrill to get ushered upstairs for front and center balcony seating, right next to pete's sweet mom!

as an added bonus, as i passed through the restaurant section of the house of blues, by random chance, i saw a guy who i used to pursue. how sassy did i feel giving him a flirty wave in my bootylicious garb as i glided past him into the vip room? sassyfaction factor: 11.

after the show, k-girl led p-girl and i into the band's dressing room. mkay? we had special passes to get in. i could really get used to this kind of star treatment. i heard winona ryder was in the house, but i never spotted her. needless to say, knowing she was there made me keep a watchful eye on my purse. (bad joke, i know. but i had ta!)

k, p and i were among the first to enter the dressing room, so it was pleasantly low-key as k-girl introduced me to pete.

"pete, i want you to meet my college roommate, nictate," she said. he looked up, smiled and extended his hand for a shake and a "good to meet you."

since the band had covered two '80s songs during their performance, i came up with this banter:

"actually, hearing those '80s covers brought back memories of our college days," i said.

he grinned through his shaggy bands, looked down at the ground and shook his head as he paced in small steps.

"i love that shit," he replied. "i went to college in the 90s, but i love that shit."

i had to laugh at the decade disclaimer.

i nervously mumbled something else and soon he was swept into the adoring throng of industry people and friends. the room was packed tighter than an 18-hour girdle after thanksgiving dinner. it was fun to people-watch and feel part of the "in" crowd. my haircut was complimented by a semi-drunk hanger-on and my friend p-girl and i made catty comments about the cleavage calling cards walking by us.

the yornster is very sweet, sincere and unassuming. so nice to encounter a rock star in the making who's keeping it real. it makes his success seem very well-deserved. rock on, my brother, rock on!

<----������� ---->