We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Life to Bring You...My Family
Yesterday was my grandfather's 70th birthday party. We had the festivities down at my aunt's place in Middletown. It was my introduction to German beer and Uncle Reinhard's German mother. She's the cutest little 80-something European woman, and speaks maybe two words worth of English. I told my dad that the language barrier there reminded me of the scene in "National Lampoon's European Vacation" where the Griswolds randomly drop in on an unsuspecting German couple, mistaking them for cousins. Luckily, Reinhard was able to act as translator here and there.
And I got to see Rouie! Sorry, I never knew how to spell his name to begin with. He's the son of my grandfather's neighbor, and I would sometimes hang out with him during the summers I spent at my grandparents'. I met his girlfriend too, and she's a really funny and friendly person. She's going for her Master's too, but in finance. I'd never be able to do that. I still wonder how I'm able to do the program I'm in right now.
Everyone eventually congregated in the tiny background amid the tiki torches and bowls of spicy shrimp on the patio tables, while listening to ABBA. Yeah...ABBA. The hilarious thing was that my Uncle Jack, who is one of the larger, football player shaped men I know, started raving about the musical "Mamma Mia!" while the music was playing. My dad couldn't stop making fun of him for it.
Then a bunch of us snuck inside to watch the Rutgers football game. That was pretty much the only bad part of the party. Poor Rutgers. The game was just depressing at points. At one point, we were all looking away and closing our eyes because of it. My little sister walked in and thought everyone was sleeping, and then got my mom to come in and yell at everyone for sleeping.
And then my grandfather's dog peed on all the birthday gifts...twice.
There were a few people there that I wasn't too familiar with. Mom said they were kids of my grandfather's late best friends or my aunt's "shore friends". They seemed really nice, and my grandfather couldn't seem to stop talking to them.
My dad and Uncle Jack were then joking around, saying they were going to the Dominican Republic with my twin sister as "chaperones," and then to Argentina and Uruguay with my aunt and uncle and then going to South Africa to visit me. Mind you, each of us are all actually planning to go to these places separately. It just gives my dad and Uncle Jack an excuse for a year-long party, though.
Like always, the food was fantastic, because Reinhard is an amazing cook. Filet mignon and crab claws. Chocolate cake for dessert. Oh yes.
We all got back home around eight or nine. The little sister went back to her dorm (I think she had stuff to get done.), but the twin sister and I stayed and hung out for a while. Dad got the "Reno 911!" movie for us on Pay-Per-View and we watched it. Good movie.
After the movie, the twin sister left, and I made the decision to stay home for the night. I really miss my room and my double bed. That thing is definitely an upgrade from the dorm beds, it doesn't matter how comfy mine is. Besides, my house is just a lot more peaceful in general. I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the stark difference between the city atmosphere of New Brunswick and almost rural feel of my little hometown neighborhood.
I finally finished the book I've been reading since August. It didn't end how I expected it would, but I almost like it better because of that. I think it might be my new favorite book. I slept like a rock in my bed, and then woke up...sick. Now I've got the works: post-nasal drip, cough, headache, sore throat, chills, loss of appetite, everything except a fever. I really wanted to just stay home and did until this afternoon, but then I made the effort and drove back up to school to get my work done. I really hope this is just a 24-hour bug, otherwise I'll be pissed.
And I got to see Rouie! Sorry, I never knew how to spell his name to begin with. He's the son of my grandfather's neighbor, and I would sometimes hang out with him during the summers I spent at my grandparents'. I met his girlfriend too, and she's a really funny and friendly person. She's going for her Master's too, but in finance. I'd never be able to do that. I still wonder how I'm able to do the program I'm in right now.
Everyone eventually congregated in the tiny background amid the tiki torches and bowls of spicy shrimp on the patio tables, while listening to ABBA. Yeah...ABBA. The hilarious thing was that my Uncle Jack, who is one of the larger, football player shaped men I know, started raving about the musical "Mamma Mia!" while the music was playing. My dad couldn't stop making fun of him for it.
Then a bunch of us snuck inside to watch the Rutgers football game. That was pretty much the only bad part of the party. Poor Rutgers. The game was just depressing at points. At one point, we were all looking away and closing our eyes because of it. My little sister walked in and thought everyone was sleeping, and then got my mom to come in and yell at everyone for sleeping.
And then my grandfather's dog peed on all the birthday gifts...twice.
There were a few people there that I wasn't too familiar with. Mom said they were kids of my grandfather's late best friends or my aunt's "shore friends". They seemed really nice, and my grandfather couldn't seem to stop talking to them.
My dad and Uncle Jack were then joking around, saying they were going to the Dominican Republic with my twin sister as "chaperones," and then to Argentina and Uruguay with my aunt and uncle and then going to South Africa to visit me. Mind you, each of us are all actually planning to go to these places separately. It just gives my dad and Uncle Jack an excuse for a year-long party, though.
Like always, the food was fantastic, because Reinhard is an amazing cook. Filet mignon and crab claws. Chocolate cake for dessert. Oh yes.
We all got back home around eight or nine. The little sister went back to her dorm (I think she had stuff to get done.), but the twin sister and I stayed and hung out for a while. Dad got the "Reno 911!" movie for us on Pay-Per-View and we watched it. Good movie.
After the movie, the twin sister left, and I made the decision to stay home for the night. I really miss my room and my double bed. That thing is definitely an upgrade from the dorm beds, it doesn't matter how comfy mine is. Besides, my house is just a lot more peaceful in general. I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the stark difference between the city atmosphere of New Brunswick and almost rural feel of my little hometown neighborhood.
I finally finished the book I've been reading since August. It didn't end how I expected it would, but I almost like it better because of that. I think it might be my new favorite book. I slept like a rock in my bed, and then woke up...sick. Now I've got the works: post-nasal drip, cough, headache, sore throat, chills, loss of appetite, everything except a fever. I really wanted to just stay home and did until this afternoon, but then I made the effort and drove back up to school to get my work done. I really hope this is just a 24-hour bug, otherwise I'll be pissed.