Kwanzaa/New Year's
The first year all the family's 21+, and we're in 3 different states for New Year's Day. So... we decided to celebrate Kwanzaa, in solidarity with Roscoe & Tash* (my black lab & Sam's lhasa). They're spoiled anyway, so getting 7 days of presents isn't too outrageous. Besides, Roscoe had ticks, and I was the only one who was willing to take tweezers (and rubbing alcohol, antiseptic jelly, etc.) to him, I had to make up for it somehow.
Also, all the friends who's party I usually go to in Columbus are out of town/sick, so I tried to make my own in the last 2 days. I figured, 5 people and a venue makes a party, so... I could either get 4 and a house (with 2 non-drinkers and parents present), or 7 and none, or I could convince 3 of them that the park nearby was perfect, as it had a firepit and all. Instead, I hopped between hanging out a few places.
Victor & I started at our friend Kevin's house. We talked history, politics, religion, and what we all want to be when we grow up. He decided, at 11:30, he was exhausted and had to go to bed now. Victor decided we should head down to OSU campus, I wanted to get Mexican first. We came across a Don Pablo's on the way, with lights on & cars there. We figured, "gotta be open, right?"
So we walked right in the front door, followed the sound of a party upstairs, figured "maybe they're all at the bar." We walked in on the employee New Year's party. Somebody told us that, as the bartender & manager sized us up and talked, and by good fortune, they both thought I was cute. "How hungry are you guys?" The manager asks, "Why don't you stay with us for a while? We've got more food than we can eat, and it's open bar."
I make myself a taco, walk up to the bar, and the (adorable) bartender puts a double shot of Patron in front of me and then asks what I'd like. I'm still not sure he's as gay as he seems to be, so I just say I'm fine. We flirt, but I don't figure out for sure 'til after midnight (when I've been given a Five Star). He keeps refilling my chapagne every time it's below half, and I eventually ask for a shot of Chambord, he says he likes my style, we discuss drinks and get to our first experience with Goldenschlager. "I thought I had something. Who've I've been with lately." Emotes dialing a phone. "Jim... Dan... Hey, do you have anything? No? My throat's kinda feeling odd. You might want to get tested. I keep calling." And then he decides to change out-of-uniform so I can see how he'd like to dress. Still looks like a tool, but tequila goggles are infinitely more deadly than beer goggles.
At 1 AM, the manager decided "It's New Year's in Minnesota." Bartender decided we should celebrate by doing body shots. I am happy Victor was Designated Driver. More free Patron and free fuzzy fratboy belly, but if he was interested, he too small for me to see anything through his pants. Vic & I were supposed to be at another friend's house around 1:30 anyway.
With the last friend, Sean, we cracked open the bottle of bubbly I'd intended on drinking, each had one glass, and watched the Futurama movie. Kept me still & half awake long enough to sober up and drive home at 4:20. I woke up at 10 with no hangover (that's what $50/bottle alcohol, good hydration, and staying up 'til you're sober does for you), and sat at the house all day because there was nothing to do.
I started re-playing Breath of Fire 2 (I discovered, with the laptop, mom's treadmill, and a tower of waffle blocks, I can play games while walking, keeping me entertained and exercised for hours) without using any emulator save-states. The story's great for the last 1/4, and still good for the rest, but some of the fun's in the challenge of "everybody but your hero's dead, you're out of healing items, and you still survive an hour of fighting your way back because his guts are so high he self-heals, counter-criticals, and is alright so long as you play defensively." Also, I finally saw Zoolander (funny once, but regret it in the morning), and I rewatched Dangerous Minds for the first time since it came out a dozen years ago (phenomenal script, great message/feel, but Michelle Pfieffer is the worst actress imaginable. If you'd put me next to her, I might look like I deserve an emmy).
I'll return on the 5th.
*He is not named after the Pseudo-Jewish god from the last Narnia book. Sam's last dog was a female named Natasha. She just circumsized the name and kept the middle intact.
Also, all the friends who's party I usually go to in Columbus are out of town/sick, so I tried to make my own in the last 2 days. I figured, 5 people and a venue makes a party, so... I could either get 4 and a house (with 2 non-drinkers and parents present), or 7 and none, or I could convince 3 of them that the park nearby was perfect, as it had a firepit and all. Instead, I hopped between hanging out a few places.
Victor & I started at our friend Kevin's house. We talked history, politics, religion, and what we all want to be when we grow up. He decided, at 11:30, he was exhausted and had to go to bed now. Victor decided we should head down to OSU campus, I wanted to get Mexican first. We came across a Don Pablo's on the way, with lights on & cars there. We figured, "gotta be open, right?"
So we walked right in the front door, followed the sound of a party upstairs, figured "maybe they're all at the bar." We walked in on the employee New Year's party. Somebody told us that, as the bartender & manager sized us up and talked, and by good fortune, they both thought I was cute. "How hungry are you guys?" The manager asks, "Why don't you stay with us for a while? We've got more food than we can eat, and it's open bar."
I make myself a taco, walk up to the bar, and the (adorable) bartender puts a double shot of Patron in front of me and then asks what I'd like. I'm still not sure he's as gay as he seems to be, so I just say I'm fine. We flirt, but I don't figure out for sure 'til after midnight (when I've been given a Five Star). He keeps refilling my chapagne every time it's below half, and I eventually ask for a shot of Chambord, he says he likes my style, we discuss drinks and get to our first experience with Goldenschlager. "I thought I had something. Who've I've been with lately." Emotes dialing a phone. "Jim... Dan... Hey, do you have anything? No? My throat's kinda feeling odd. You might want to get tested. I keep calling." And then he decides to change out-of-uniform so I can see how he'd like to dress. Still looks like a tool, but tequila goggles are infinitely more deadly than beer goggles.
At 1 AM, the manager decided "It's New Year's in Minnesota." Bartender decided we should celebrate by doing body shots. I am happy Victor was Designated Driver. More free Patron and free fuzzy fratboy belly, but if he was interested, he too small for me to see anything through his pants. Vic & I were supposed to be at another friend's house around 1:30 anyway.
With the last friend, Sean, we cracked open the bottle of bubbly I'd intended on drinking, each had one glass, and watched the Futurama movie. Kept me still & half awake long enough to sober up and drive home at 4:20. I woke up at 10 with no hangover (that's what $50/bottle alcohol, good hydration, and staying up 'til you're sober does for you), and sat at the house all day because there was nothing to do.
I started re-playing Breath of Fire 2 (I discovered, with the laptop, mom's treadmill, and a tower of waffle blocks, I can play games while walking, keeping me entertained and exercised for hours) without using any emulator save-states. The story's great for the last 1/4, and still good for the rest, but some of the fun's in the challenge of "everybody but your hero's dead, you're out of healing items, and you still survive an hour of fighting your way back because his guts are so high he self-heals, counter-criticals, and is alright so long as you play defensively." Also, I finally saw Zoolander (funny once, but regret it in the morning), and I rewatched Dangerous Minds for the first time since it came out a dozen years ago (phenomenal script, great message/feel, but Michelle Pfieffer is the worst actress imaginable. If you'd put me next to her, I might look like I deserve an emmy).
I'll return on the 5th.
*He is not named after the Pseudo-Jewish god from the last Narnia book. Sam's last dog was a female named Natasha. She just circumsized the name and kept the middle intact.