The New Year might bring need of new liver...
This was the first time in a long time that I've had quite a bit of fun on New Year's Eve and nothing got to out of hand. Although things have gotten out of hand since then. Here's the run down:
Cut for length...
12/30 - Jess and I got out in Andersonville for a short practice run. We go to Hopeleaf and although we are let in the door the place is way too crowded and after going to the bathroom and being denied the upstairs bar we leave for something a little more swedish. Simon's is crowded but we can find a place to sit in the window and then find a spot at the bar where we finally chat up a semi cute boy who likes Flight of the Conchords and I realize that the big ass Sapporo cans at Simon's really are the best deal in the joint which makes me happy since I like them. We stay 'til closing and go home to roughly play with the cat and then pass out mildly buzzed.
12/31 - Jess and I meet her cousin and her friends at the most amazing Ethiopian Restaurant in Edgewater called Ethiopian Diamond. They made me the REAL ethiopian bread which has just a smattering of regular wheat flour in it so I was able to eat bread and boy oh boy did I eat that bread. We stayed until around 10 pm at which point I was utterly full of yummy Ethiopian food and thus not very drunk - not even buzzed. Upon leaving the owner gave us some ethiopian coffee on the house and I dug it - he said it would help us party all night which we all thought was very sweet of him.
After some hemming and hawing finally we end up at Cafe Bong and walking in sober with a group of drunks eating the mic while singing at the other end of the bar was even more sobering so I had to down a couple shots of tequila and some coronas before the New Year hit. At that point our matron, Ginny, poured out some very yummy shots which many in our group seemed against so I had. (Side note this was the first time for me to show up at Cafe Bong again after Bianca and I closed the place and then stayed and drank with Ginny until 4 am - and true to her word she did not remember me at all which was hilarious since her helper Daniella DID remember me and hugged me a happy new year when she came in for her holiday shots). One big discovery of the night was that one of Jess's cousin's friends and I found out that we were a karaoke match made in heaven and we wowed the crowed with 2 show stopping 100% earning numbers; An amazing rendition of Cranklin' Rosie, and then a massively well received Brandy (at least in my mind it was).
After all this we were finally all going strong with our drink and dance and with Cafe Bong closed we got in cabs and went to Carols. I love Carol's. Probably I love it because most of the country songs that the band covers were late 80's hits which is what I grew up listening to in my parent's cars since they were from Texas and all - we compromised on oldies stations once I was old enough to voice my opinion. The people watching at Carol's also cannot be beat. The things I don't like about Carol's are the price of beers (a High Life for $4.50) and the weird men that ALWAYS hit on me while there. I wasn't there two minutes before I guy, who I think I nail in describing as the attractive asshole from many an 80's teen movie, comes up to me asking how to get a drink. I am inebriated enough at this point not to notice him feigning stupidity and after pointing to an obviously open place at the bar where he can walk up and get a drink and him "not noticing it" I grab him by the shoulder an in a "hey ass hat here it is" way I take him over to said spot. At this point he continues his chatty cathy self and I finally catch on to his motives and get out of there since I was never attracted to the assholes from 80's teen movies. After that there was some ethnic dude (I get a lotta ethnic dudes) in a gross crochet like grey smushed cowboy hat who tried to get with me so I kissed Jess on the cheek saying she was my girlfriend and since we were out with a bunch of lesbians that worked for a while. I don't think we closed Carol's but we left late and got some yummy Mexican at the joint just up the street that is open 24hrs and then passed out.
1/1 We got up and had some breakfast and then watched the Winter Classic in our P.j.s. I wasn't in pain from a hangover but I was in hangover haze which made it hard to sound at all intelligent. After a while we decided to venture out for food and had a horribly unsatisfying meal at Charlie's Ale House - will never eat there again but their Thursday $3 Bell's Amber was good. After that we thought about seeing a movie but neither of us felt like driving no paying full price for a ticket so we watched much Mr. Show and Kids in the Hall and went to bed early.
1/2 Jess was thinking of going home but we are both feeling good and decide to go and walk around to shops in my hood and check stuff out. It was great to be in real sunlight and out in the open air. Some of the shops were totally fun and I found some good little places that will need a revisit but before we new it we were both starving so we walked into Andie's - a Mediterranean place that boasts the best glogg on the street which I find funny since glogg is a swedish drink. This is the first time the two of us have been in a Mediterranean restaurant and not ordered too much food. We got an appetizer of these amazing chorizo sausage stuffed bacon wrapped figs in an amazing tomato sauce. When they came to the table we were both a bit disappointed since they cost $7 and in the plate there were only 3 small nuggets. BUT after the first bite it was obvious we had made the riht decision and I guess that is kind of what set us up for the rest of the night.
After the amazing meal we were both feeling high off the endorphins one gets after eating at a new place and finding glorious success and satisfaction. Since it was only around 5:30 I thought for once we might be able to find a place to sit at Hopeleaf and I get to drink my Maudite that I had been craving since Tuesday. We walk in and the place is PACKED again but there are two spots at the bar near the door. We sit and each order a Maudite and enjoy. Jess is happy with it's deliciousness and because of my body chemistry at the time of consumption the 8% alcohol makes me even happier than when we walked in. At this we decide to have just one more beer and share it - an Ommegang Abby Ale at 8.5%. Needless to say one more beer was shared and after that we galloped home to plan out the rest of our evening since it was only about 7 pm. We had played with the idea of going to see Twilight at the $3 movies for the sheer girly fun of it but when we realized that it would be very hard getting back to my neck of the woods without a taxi we looked for dive bars on the Red line or Clark bus route. We found a punk rock dive called Delilah's where we enjoyed too many $3 maker's shots and labatt blue cans. It was at this bar we got a little too outta hand but at the same time we had the best time giggling and people watching and plotting our world domination. Before midnight we decided to head back closer to home to make sure we'd be able to take public transit. Once home we headed over to Simon's yet again thinking we'd have one more and then call it a night. Famous last words. Although we really did only have about one or two before they closed the place we didn't exactly go home. Carol's is an unfortuantely close distance to Simon's even when walking in winter - but being very drunk does help. So we go to Carol's AGAIN. At this point when I walk in I hug the door guy because in my head he recognizes me - and he might. We are not there more than a minute before Jess's cousin and my 100% karaoke partner walk up and then that was the end. Usually when Jess and I are at Carol's alone we get one beer each or to share and just people watch and if Jess is so inclined dance. But with two outside influences intent on making sure we were drinking and I guess just the excitement of being out and at a place where people we knew were by chance just went to our heads. And frankly for me after feeling so out of place here for so long I really needed that.
The night was ended as it should be, at the 24 hour Mexican joint at the corner of Clark and Lawrence. Then the wonderful cousin gave us a lift home in her cab and we passed out hard.
1/2 This was a rough day but after realizing we had been drinking for nearly 11 hours the day before we actually felt like we were in better shape than we should have been. And yes I spent a lot of money but really I spent less than I thought I was going to on New years so it evened out. It was very late this evening when Jess finally went back out to the burbs and I passed out for a good night of sleep that was not alcohol induced.
Today 1/3 I was woken up by an unknown caller and decide to sleepily answer it hoping it has something to do with a job and I hear a "Moshi moshi, Takumi desu yo!" and I squeal because it's my Japanese little brother calling me! Oh it was so good to hear from him. He is so much like my little brother in that we don't have all that much to discuss but at the same time don't want to say goodbye. I ask him if he is still dating women older than me and in his best English replies, "No comment." which scares me but it was great he called. Now I have to get a calling card and try to call him back sometime.
After that I got ready since I had a training session for what I thought was my new job (one of many I hope to acquire) tutoring twice a week. I get there and find out I don't have the job YET, this was just an informational thing a mahjig where we fill out paperwork etc. So afterward I am feeling a bit down and walk for a bit listening to my ipod and well the grey sky mixed with Sea and Cake along with Red House Painters started to make me more and more melancholy. When I get off the train a stop late to walk the other way home and get a coffee I realize I have no cash and don't think I can charge a $2 coffee somewhere so I go home and proceed into a little funk which is not alleviated after eating left over Noodle Zone. I call my mom and it actually makes it worse since she is so far away. So I nap. When I wake up there is an email from the tutoring place saying I have been accepted (THANK GOD) and then after that I find a PT receptionist like gig at a gym not to far away (20 min by bus) and apply. Then I eat some other leftovers which might have given me a little bit of poisoning and a Simpler Time beer and although my stomach is gurgling I have a more contented feeling - kind of ending the day where I started it.
Now for tomorrow I have to get my car jumped and get it checked out (the battery keeps dying from non use OR because I left the GPS charger plugged into the cigarette lighter) then go return and overpriced humidifier at Bed Bath & Beyond and pick up a new cheaper one from like Target and perhaps go to Trader Joe's for more amazing Chocolate Sorbet (the best new thing that I've found that I can eat)!
Cut for length...
12/30 - Jess and I got out in Andersonville for a short practice run. We go to Hopeleaf and although we are let in the door the place is way too crowded and after going to the bathroom and being denied the upstairs bar we leave for something a little more swedish. Simon's is crowded but we can find a place to sit in the window and then find a spot at the bar where we finally chat up a semi cute boy who likes Flight of the Conchords and I realize that the big ass Sapporo cans at Simon's really are the best deal in the joint which makes me happy since I like them. We stay 'til closing and go home to roughly play with the cat and then pass out mildly buzzed.
12/31 - Jess and I meet her cousin and her friends at the most amazing Ethiopian Restaurant in Edgewater called Ethiopian Diamond. They made me the REAL ethiopian bread which has just a smattering of regular wheat flour in it so I was able to eat bread and boy oh boy did I eat that bread. We stayed until around 10 pm at which point I was utterly full of yummy Ethiopian food and thus not very drunk - not even buzzed. Upon leaving the owner gave us some ethiopian coffee on the house and I dug it - he said it would help us party all night which we all thought was very sweet of him.
After some hemming and hawing finally we end up at Cafe Bong and walking in sober with a group of drunks eating the mic while singing at the other end of the bar was even more sobering so I had to down a couple shots of tequila and some coronas before the New Year hit. At that point our matron, Ginny, poured out some very yummy shots which many in our group seemed against so I had. (Side note this was the first time for me to show up at Cafe Bong again after Bianca and I closed the place and then stayed and drank with Ginny until 4 am - and true to her word she did not remember me at all which was hilarious since her helper Daniella DID remember me and hugged me a happy new year when she came in for her holiday shots). One big discovery of the night was that one of Jess's cousin's friends and I found out that we were a karaoke match made in heaven and we wowed the crowed with 2 show stopping 100% earning numbers; An amazing rendition of Cranklin' Rosie, and then a massively well received Brandy (at least in my mind it was).
After all this we were finally all going strong with our drink and dance and with Cafe Bong closed we got in cabs and went to Carols. I love Carol's. Probably I love it because most of the country songs that the band covers were late 80's hits which is what I grew up listening to in my parent's cars since they were from Texas and all - we compromised on oldies stations once I was old enough to voice my opinion. The people watching at Carol's also cannot be beat. The things I don't like about Carol's are the price of beers (a High Life for $4.50) and the weird men that ALWAYS hit on me while there. I wasn't there two minutes before I guy, who I think I nail in describing as the attractive asshole from many an 80's teen movie, comes up to me asking how to get a drink. I am inebriated enough at this point not to notice him feigning stupidity and after pointing to an obviously open place at the bar where he can walk up and get a drink and him "not noticing it" I grab him by the shoulder an in a "hey ass hat here it is" way I take him over to said spot. At this point he continues his chatty cathy self and I finally catch on to his motives and get out of there since I was never attracted to the assholes from 80's teen movies. After that there was some ethnic dude (I get a lotta ethnic dudes) in a gross crochet like grey smushed cowboy hat who tried to get with me so I kissed Jess on the cheek saying she was my girlfriend and since we were out with a bunch of lesbians that worked for a while. I don't think we closed Carol's but we left late and got some yummy Mexican at the joint just up the street that is open 24hrs and then passed out.
1/1 We got up and had some breakfast and then watched the Winter Classic in our P.j.s. I wasn't in pain from a hangover but I was in hangover haze which made it hard to sound at all intelligent. After a while we decided to venture out for food and had a horribly unsatisfying meal at Charlie's Ale House - will never eat there again but their Thursday $3 Bell's Amber was good. After that we thought about seeing a movie but neither of us felt like driving no paying full price for a ticket so we watched much Mr. Show and Kids in the Hall and went to bed early.
1/2 Jess was thinking of going home but we are both feeling good and decide to go and walk around to shops in my hood and check stuff out. It was great to be in real sunlight and out in the open air. Some of the shops were totally fun and I found some good little places that will need a revisit but before we new it we were both starving so we walked into Andie's - a Mediterranean place that boasts the best glogg on the street which I find funny since glogg is a swedish drink. This is the first time the two of us have been in a Mediterranean restaurant and not ordered too much food. We got an appetizer of these amazing chorizo sausage stuffed bacon wrapped figs in an amazing tomato sauce. When they came to the table we were both a bit disappointed since they cost $7 and in the plate there were only 3 small nuggets. BUT after the first bite it was obvious we had made the riht decision and I guess that is kind of what set us up for the rest of the night.
After the amazing meal we were both feeling high off the endorphins one gets after eating at a new place and finding glorious success and satisfaction. Since it was only around 5:30 I thought for once we might be able to find a place to sit at Hopeleaf and I get to drink my Maudite that I had been craving since Tuesday. We walk in and the place is PACKED again but there are two spots at the bar near the door. We sit and each order a Maudite and enjoy. Jess is happy with it's deliciousness and because of my body chemistry at the time of consumption the 8% alcohol makes me even happier than when we walked in. At this we decide to have just one more beer and share it - an Ommegang Abby Ale at 8.5%. Needless to say one more beer was shared and after that we galloped home to plan out the rest of our evening since it was only about 7 pm. We had played with the idea of going to see Twilight at the $3 movies for the sheer girly fun of it but when we realized that it would be very hard getting back to my neck of the woods without a taxi we looked for dive bars on the Red line or Clark bus route. We found a punk rock dive called Delilah's where we enjoyed too many $3 maker's shots and labatt blue cans. It was at this bar we got a little too outta hand but at the same time we had the best time giggling and people watching and plotting our world domination. Before midnight we decided to head back closer to home to make sure we'd be able to take public transit. Once home we headed over to Simon's yet again thinking we'd have one more and then call it a night. Famous last words. Although we really did only have about one or two before they closed the place we didn't exactly go home. Carol's is an unfortuantely close distance to Simon's even when walking in winter - but being very drunk does help. So we go to Carol's AGAIN. At this point when I walk in I hug the door guy because in my head he recognizes me - and he might. We are not there more than a minute before Jess's cousin and my 100% karaoke partner walk up and then that was the end. Usually when Jess and I are at Carol's alone we get one beer each or to share and just people watch and if Jess is so inclined dance. But with two outside influences intent on making sure we were drinking and I guess just the excitement of being out and at a place where people we knew were by chance just went to our heads. And frankly for me after feeling so out of place here for so long I really needed that.
The night was ended as it should be, at the 24 hour Mexican joint at the corner of Clark and Lawrence. Then the wonderful cousin gave us a lift home in her cab and we passed out hard.
1/2 This was a rough day but after realizing we had been drinking for nearly 11 hours the day before we actually felt like we were in better shape than we should have been. And yes I spent a lot of money but really I spent less than I thought I was going to on New years so it evened out. It was very late this evening when Jess finally went back out to the burbs and I passed out for a good night of sleep that was not alcohol induced.
Today 1/3 I was woken up by an unknown caller and decide to sleepily answer it hoping it has something to do with a job and I hear a "Moshi moshi, Takumi desu yo!" and I squeal because it's my Japanese little brother calling me! Oh it was so good to hear from him. He is so much like my little brother in that we don't have all that much to discuss but at the same time don't want to say goodbye. I ask him if he is still dating women older than me and in his best English replies, "No comment." which scares me but it was great he called. Now I have to get a calling card and try to call him back sometime.
After that I got ready since I had a training session for what I thought was my new job (one of many I hope to acquire) tutoring twice a week. I get there and find out I don't have the job YET, this was just an informational thing a mahjig where we fill out paperwork etc. So afterward I am feeling a bit down and walk for a bit listening to my ipod and well the grey sky mixed with Sea and Cake along with Red House Painters started to make me more and more melancholy. When I get off the train a stop late to walk the other way home and get a coffee I realize I have no cash and don't think I can charge a $2 coffee somewhere so I go home and proceed into a little funk which is not alleviated after eating left over Noodle Zone. I call my mom and it actually makes it worse since she is so far away. So I nap. When I wake up there is an email from the tutoring place saying I have been accepted (THANK GOD) and then after that I find a PT receptionist like gig at a gym not to far away (20 min by bus) and apply. Then I eat some other leftovers which might have given me a little bit of poisoning and a Simpler Time beer and although my stomach is gurgling I have a more contented feeling - kind of ending the day where I started it.
Now for tomorrow I have to get my car jumped and get it checked out (the battery keeps dying from non use OR because I left the GPS charger plugged into the cigarette lighter) then go return and overpriced humidifier at Bed Bath & Beyond and pick up a new cheaper one from like Target and perhaps go to Trader Joe's for more amazing Chocolate Sorbet (the best new thing that I've found that I can eat)!