Long Island, No PrinciPles and a Festival
All came together for one fun night. Originally I thought the band (No PrinciPles) was having their normal gig at The Regent but Duke informed me that they would be playing at the Eagle's Lodge in Rainier Oregon for the Rainier Days festival. I considered not going at first and, since everyone originally planning to go backed out on me, that was a real possibility. Then it dawned on me that I had one last person to ask.
For two weeks now I have been talking with an old friend from college, Chris. I knew he liked bars and would probably be up for it so I asked. Of course he was more than happy to go so I picked him up at 8:30 and we headed to Rainier. I haven't actually visited with Chris in years so it was nice to get to spend that time with him. We found the place without issue (which is good because I lost the directions) and eventually found a parking space.
They were carding people at the door and Chris made them card both of us for the heck of it. ^_^ We hit the place right at break (which has been my luck the last few times) and I didn't see Duke right away. So we found a place at a table close to the band but not too close to people.
We had just sat down when I saw Duke walk in so I went over to give him a hug. Naturally he was almost more interested in the girls who weren't there. _-_ I explained that they weren't able to make it and pointed out that Chris had come instead. He was disappointed but tried not to show it. -_- Duke headed over to the table and said hi to Chris. We talked for a little bit before the band started up again.
Chris bought the first round of drinks while I wasn't looking so I got my first soda free. On the next round I got them while he was outside so I paid for them both. I had intended to buy the drinks for the night because Chris had been willing to join me and because I knew he was low on funds. He was so excited about going out though that he managed to borrow some money anyway.
After the band's second break from playing I decided I was going to try something to drink for once. It's been a long while since I had alcohol and I figured Chris might be able to pick something out for me. I kind of expected him to pick out an ale or beer (he did have me try his Blue Moon which was good but not great… but I don't like beer much anyway). He asked me what I liked and I have no idea. I have only ever really had straight hard alcohol and beers like Bud, and cheep shit that wasn't worth the money spent on it. After some questions he ordered up a Long Island Ice Tea for me. The waiter gave the suggestion his thumbs up so I was interested in trying out.
I was a little disappointed in the price tag of $8, for which the server apologized profusely and said it was because they had a live band. However the drink was very good. I had Chris try it to tell me what he thought compared to others he'd dried and he said it was good as well. He was a little disappointed that I wasn't going to drink it as fast as possible though. Hehe.
When the band got to next break and Duke came to visit with us he was beside himself with surprised that I was drinking something (to which I was amused). He pegged my intentions right away, though, by stating that if it was anything like other drinks that I would be nurse it all night long, which is exactly what I did. Of course the whole time I was wondering to myself what was different about this time. Part of it was that my sisters weren't' there. They get so excited about drinking and make WAY to big a deal about me having alcohol (because I so staunchly refuse any other time). Ingrid specifically is way too vocal about such things and I feel that at this time she would only use it as another excuse for her to drink too much.
We spent most of the night talking when we could and watching people dance. Chris really wanted me to get up and dance (which seems to be a popular request from anyone I am with for some reason) but I couldn't break my dislike of being in any kind of spotlight to do it; even when they eventually played my favorite song in their list (Radar Love by Golden Earring). Duke even had them dedicate the song to me. ;^_^ I nursed my drink and had a couple of diet cokes on the side. Chris stuck with Blue Moon for the night.
At one point I noticed that the band had red lights on one side of the stage and blue on the other. The effect on the singer's shirt was trippy and I kept feeling like I was watching a 3-D movie without the glasses. So that lead to funny discussions about what it might be like to have a live show in 3-D. hehe.
Chris got hit on a few times but a fugly woman who was drunk and kept touching his arms. Hehe. Sadly the best dancer on the floor all night was a woman who was pretty good and drunk. In fact we were discussing which guy in the group she was with. We all three agreed that she was probably with both of them and other girl too when they all seemed to be really close before they disappeared out the door.
It was around this time that I noticed the place was getting emptier. I mused that Rainier must be backwards, because people packed the place in the beginning and were gone before midnight. Chris and I stuck it out to the end and left when the band did. A couple of the band members came up to us and thanked us for our support before we left. Hehe. I gave Duke a hug again before we headed out the door to the car.
I was worried about drinking the one drink (which is not small by any means) and driving home from a festival where lots of people drink and cops would be out enforce. I wasn't going to over do it though because the Lewis and Clark Bridge is scary enough to me when I haven't had anything. -_- We made it back to Chris' place and talked in the car for a while before he headed inside and I headed home. He seemed to really have fun, which I was surprised at, and so I think we will have to go out again sometime. I really had fun too and it was nice to not only hang out with an old friend but have someone else besides family to do stuff with in the area. ^_^
For two weeks now I have been talking with an old friend from college, Chris. I knew he liked bars and would probably be up for it so I asked. Of course he was more than happy to go so I picked him up at 8:30 and we headed to Rainier. I haven't actually visited with Chris in years so it was nice to get to spend that time with him. We found the place without issue (which is good because I lost the directions) and eventually found a parking space.
They were carding people at the door and Chris made them card both of us for the heck of it. ^_^ We hit the place right at break (which has been my luck the last few times) and I didn't see Duke right away. So we found a place at a table close to the band but not too close to people.
We had just sat down when I saw Duke walk in so I went over to give him a hug. Naturally he was almost more interested in the girls who weren't there. _-_ I explained that they weren't able to make it and pointed out that Chris had come instead. He was disappointed but tried not to show it. -_- Duke headed over to the table and said hi to Chris. We talked for a little bit before the band started up again.
Chris bought the first round of drinks while I wasn't looking so I got my first soda free. On the next round I got them while he was outside so I paid for them both. I had intended to buy the drinks for the night because Chris had been willing to join me and because I knew he was low on funds. He was so excited about going out though that he managed to borrow some money anyway.
After the band's second break from playing I decided I was going to try something to drink for once. It's been a long while since I had alcohol and I figured Chris might be able to pick something out for me. I kind of expected him to pick out an ale or beer (he did have me try his Blue Moon which was good but not great… but I don't like beer much anyway). He asked me what I liked and I have no idea. I have only ever really had straight hard alcohol and beers like Bud, and cheep shit that wasn't worth the money spent on it. After some questions he ordered up a Long Island Ice Tea for me. The waiter gave the suggestion his thumbs up so I was interested in trying out.
I was a little disappointed in the price tag of $8, for which the server apologized profusely and said it was because they had a live band. However the drink was very good. I had Chris try it to tell me what he thought compared to others he'd dried and he said it was good as well. He was a little disappointed that I wasn't going to drink it as fast as possible though. Hehe.
When the band got to next break and Duke came to visit with us he was beside himself with surprised that I was drinking something (to which I was amused). He pegged my intentions right away, though, by stating that if it was anything like other drinks that I would be nurse it all night long, which is exactly what I did. Of course the whole time I was wondering to myself what was different about this time. Part of it was that my sisters weren't' there. They get so excited about drinking and make WAY to big a deal about me having alcohol (because I so staunchly refuse any other time). Ingrid specifically is way too vocal about such things and I feel that at this time she would only use it as another excuse for her to drink too much.
We spent most of the night talking when we could and watching people dance. Chris really wanted me to get up and dance (which seems to be a popular request from anyone I am with for some reason) but I couldn't break my dislike of being in any kind of spotlight to do it; even when they eventually played my favorite song in their list (Radar Love by Golden Earring). Duke even had them dedicate the song to me. ;^_^ I nursed my drink and had a couple of diet cokes on the side. Chris stuck with Blue Moon for the night.
At one point I noticed that the band had red lights on one side of the stage and blue on the other. The effect on the singer's shirt was trippy and I kept feeling like I was watching a 3-D movie without the glasses. So that lead to funny discussions about what it might be like to have a live show in 3-D. hehe.
Chris got hit on a few times but a fugly woman who was drunk and kept touching his arms. Hehe. Sadly the best dancer on the floor all night was a woman who was pretty good and drunk. In fact we were discussing which guy in the group she was with. We all three agreed that she was probably with both of them and other girl too when they all seemed to be really close before they disappeared out the door.
It was around this time that I noticed the place was getting emptier. I mused that Rainier must be backwards, because people packed the place in the beginning and were gone before midnight. Chris and I stuck it out to the end and left when the band did. A couple of the band members came up to us and thanked us for our support before we left. Hehe. I gave Duke a hug again before we headed out the door to the car.
I was worried about drinking the one drink (which is not small by any means) and driving home from a festival where lots of people drink and cops would be out enforce. I wasn't going to over do it though because the Lewis and Clark Bridge is scary enough to me when I haven't had anything. -_- We made it back to Chris' place and talked in the car for a while before he headed inside and I headed home. He seemed to really have fun, which I was surprised at, and so I think we will have to go out again sometime. I really had fun too and it was nice to not only hang out with an old friend but have someone else besides family to do stuff with in the area. ^_^