The invitation to my birthday party last weekend began:
At any rate, it turned out to be the party of the night last Saturday for the smallish scene here, especially once the Marine Ball ended at 11:30. (American embassy parties are the lamest.) That made me happy. There were only a few crashers, most of whom were welcome. The two who weren't ended up being the hardest people to kick out, surprise surprise, but I finally managed to around 4:00.
SRB had gone to bed earlier and Linc was still in town so he and I went back to my place and slept until past noon on Sunday. After going out for a big brunch we headed over to the party house and commenced to cleaning. SRB was in a terrible mood for reasons that she would not disclose, which happens sometimes and is always a treat. Also the floors were in rough shape -- college party rough. Much trash, much sweeping, two passes with the mop. Then Linc and I went on our merry way, to watch a terrific kung fu movie (Iron Monkey) and eat popcorn and, eventually, dinner.
After that I went back over to pick SRB up and take a few minutes to talk about why she'd been upset earlier. Was good to do that. Back at my house we watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to complete the kung fu theme of the day.
On my actual birthday, I just had a couple of friends over to SRB and AF's place, along with Lincoln. We ordered some food and drank some wine, including a bottle that I'd been lusting after since Santiago days, which I bought earlier this year after finding it by chance in some duty free. It's called Montes Folly, and it made a big global splash when it debuted 10+ years ago. Needless to say, it was much too expensive for study-abroad-me to afford. But by golly I can afford it now. It was delicious, thankfully. Then we played a lovely round of Dixit, in which I finished last and Linc won. AF gave Linc a high-five afterward, reminding us that on his birthday a little while ago we played Scrabble and I whipped him. Karma, I suppose.
Home stretch to the holidays commences now. I won't have a Thanksgiving dinner again this year: don't hang out with many Americans, so I'm not invited to any, and it goes without saying that Thursday's not a day off for us. But that's okay. SRB and I can have a Jewish-Christmas Thanksgiving, ordering Chinese and watching a movie.
She's in Peshawar tonight, so I'll take the opportunity to run some errands and perhaps do a bit of Christmas shopping. Been makin' a list.
One-and-a-half score and one years ago, my parents brought forth on this planet a new birth of person, conceived in Tennessee, and dedicated to the proposition that punning on the Gettysburg address is the best way to announce a birthday party.Come to think of it, I've never checked about the Tennessee bit, just assumed it based on timeline.
At any rate, it turned out to be the party of the night last Saturday for the smallish scene here, especially once the Marine Ball ended at 11:30. (American embassy parties are the lamest.) That made me happy. There were only a few crashers, most of whom were welcome. The two who weren't ended up being the hardest people to kick out, surprise surprise, but I finally managed to around 4:00.
SRB had gone to bed earlier and Linc was still in town so he and I went back to my place and slept until past noon on Sunday. After going out for a big brunch we headed over to the party house and commenced to cleaning. SRB was in a terrible mood for reasons that she would not disclose, which happens sometimes and is always a treat. Also the floors were in rough shape -- college party rough. Much trash, much sweeping, two passes with the mop. Then Linc and I went on our merry way, to watch a terrific kung fu movie (Iron Monkey) and eat popcorn and, eventually, dinner.
After that I went back over to pick SRB up and take a few minutes to talk about why she'd been upset earlier. Was good to do that. Back at my house we watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to complete the kung fu theme of the day.
On my actual birthday, I just had a couple of friends over to SRB and AF's place, along with Lincoln. We ordered some food and drank some wine, including a bottle that I'd been lusting after since Santiago days, which I bought earlier this year after finding it by chance in some duty free. It's called Montes Folly, and it made a big global splash when it debuted 10+ years ago. Needless to say, it was much too expensive for study-abroad-me to afford. But by golly I can afford it now. It was delicious, thankfully. Then we played a lovely round of Dixit, in which I finished last and Linc won. AF gave Linc a high-five afterward, reminding us that on his birthday a little while ago we played Scrabble and I whipped him. Karma, I suppose.
Home stretch to the holidays commences now. I won't have a Thanksgiving dinner again this year: don't hang out with many Americans, so I'm not invited to any, and it goes without saying that Thursday's not a day off for us. But that's okay. SRB and I can have a Jewish-Christmas Thanksgiving, ordering Chinese and watching a movie.
She's in Peshawar tonight, so I'll take the opportunity to run some errands and perhaps do a bit of Christmas shopping. Been makin' a list.
