Birthday Shenanigans

Rum and cokes. Gin and tonics. Beer. Mystery Shots. Shuffleboard. Saturday night was finally the big night – the night of my birthday party. I had planned to trek home from work at the Science Center and have an easy walk over to Brewer’s Art for the party, but then I thought twice about trying to fit twenty people in there and drinking craft beers all night. I love Brewers Art, but it can be kinda crazy on weekends and those beers really knock me out.

So, just like last year, we went down to The Don’t Know Tavern in Federal Hill. Just like last time, I was the first one there, but I didn’t mind. I spent the first twenty minutes or so reading from a novel called “Big Machine” and sipping a gin and tonic.

Jason S. and his girlfriend were the first ones to show up. I had a great time catching up with him and gossiping about the Science Center. He didn’t know that Laura had a baby or that Rodney got fired. After a bit, Jean and her boyfriend showed up as well, and then Seth, Tara, and Bobby. We talked Physics and UMBC people. Apparently John and Mellissa are having a baby!

Before long most of the other people showed up: Tom, Katie, Erick S., Erick P., Ali (his ex), Scott, Emily (my ex) who made friends with Ali (oh boy…), Storch, Matthew S., Danny, and Kristen. Not present – most of my high school friends (not counting Tom). Kind of weird, if you think about it. I think Pocious had something to do that weekend, so no big deal.

Predictably, I was completely sloshed by the end of the night, but we walked over to Idle Hour for beers anyway. Tom bought me a Resurrection, but I barely drank it. At that point, I was just sort of clutching the bar and hoping Ali wouldn’t try to take me home because I had this feeling she was crushing on me. I ended up crashing on Tom’s couch, but Ali took the other couch. I felt sort of bad that she followed me around because I didn’t want to betray Erick (or even leave it up to interpretation that I might have), but when she offered to drive me home in the morning, I couldn’t help but accept. My head was a mess and with the sun beating down it already felt 90 degrees out there. Too long for a Sunday morning walk!

I spent the rest of the day mostly in bed, playing video games, drinking water and gatorade, and pulling myself back together. Monday, at least, I felt a lot better, but decided to skip out on swing dancing anyway because my ankles have been bothering me lately. Overall, an interesting weekend.