November Rain

One of the reasons LDL and I even started thinking about writing a blog was that we were cracking ourselves up with various stories of each other's lives. I would laugh (or complain) about the old men who hit on me at work, the lack of social skills in the engineering community, and the inevitable and always hilarious predicaments I would get myself into because I just can't hear that well. LDL stories were focused mostly on the ridiculous things strangers said to help her take care of sweet p even though it was not welcomed, what it was like to be married, or the trouble she and p would get into through out the day. Pretty different daily lives for such a close friendship. So you read the story of how she celebrated her 30th birthday. Here's how I celebrated mine.

I woke up completely free from the tethers of a corporate engineering job that I absolutely hated and to a phone call from LDL, LTD and PDL. That was reason to celebrate by itself. I was late to my tennis match with the old ladies - it started at 10am, they wanted to be there early to warm up by 8:30am but NO LATER than 9:15. The capslock are not mine, but those of that weeks captain. Who needs to warm up for more than an hour before the match? So I stroll in late and without a racket to find out that I am playing with the oldest, and slowest player on our team. She's ranked higher than I am, which I guess it was happens when you play more than 3 times a year. So she's got a killer drop shot and all I have are ground strokes. You'd think that being able to chase down a ball would score more points in my favor. Anyway, we lost and it was her fault. Semi-annoying but at least I got some exercise in the morning.

My friend SAB came over to the house, and we were ready for a night out on the town, promising ourselves that we'd try out new neighborhoods and haunts. Things rarely happen the way we plan them. Our big idea of walking around the Mission District and perusing local shops and cafes seemed a bit ridiculous given the heavy downpour. SAB and I decided to make our way toward the restaurant early and try to grab a drink to watch the football game. MUNI once again took forever. I thought that 30th was as old as I would get, since I was stuffed between a mean looking hipster with piercings every where and a giant man with music blasting through his headphones (he's going to be deaf by his next birthday).

Location # 1 - Andalu
Friends were waiting for us by the bar at Andalu and slowly the Birthday Festivities were underway. MKC ordered for the whole table - she's amazing like that - and deliciousness just kept coming out of the kitchen. Mac and Cheese bites, brussel sprouts, short ribs, polenta fries, cheese fondue, fresh donut holes dipped in hot chocolate. Every thing was amazing. Then, right around the time the crowd sang happy birthday, glow in the dark bracelets and whistles appear from SAB's purse, courtesy of my mom. Pretty much every one at the party said she was the coolest mom ever. The night gets a little crazy from there, but I'll shelve my pride and leave you with not so flattering pictures with captions so you can get the idea.

Getting creative with the glow bracelets

Location #2 - Kilowatt


Just in case we get separated



Initially we were going to go straight to the dance club, but since our dinner reservation was so early, we decided that we needed to post-dinner pre-game elsewhere. Enter Kilowatt.



testing the whistle



Location #3 - Double Dutch

Here is where we started to meet some interesting characters. A guy from Yemen kept following MKC. Being the nice, but newly married member of the group, she brought himover to dance with us and gave him a glow bracelet. It kept coming off and those things are hard to snap on your wrist without help. I carefully put my glass in my mouth touse both hands and SNAP. Nope, not the bracelet, my wine glass broke.Thank goodness there was no blood. We lost a few members of the group to fatigue but four of us kept on.

Location #4 - Martuni's Piano Bar

Martuni's is on the list of places you have to try onthe online magazine 7x7. SAB and I decided a while ago we were going to do our best to cross off all locations on the list before the new year. Piano Bar or Bust, in the pouring rain. Turns out, it was a bust. We managed to squeeze into a tiny space near the martini bar, but had no hope of getting near the piano. SAB spent some time chatting up a man in drag who did not understand why we were drinking cosmos and wearing glow sticks. Think about that.

Location #5 - Mint



It was late! And Raining! And my birthday!



The inevitable Karaoke Bar that happens when you get a bunch of girls together with glow sticks and celebrating a birthday. A 5th location! We landed in a prime spot, just by the stage. The goal was to just be close enough to see the lyrics on the screen ahead, but no one had any plans to actually get on the stage. Until a man climbed up there and starting singing - and butchered the lyrics. You guys know how I am about lyrics. So, apparently, I thought it was a good idea to get up there and help him out. It sounded terrible, but it was a lot of fun.





So there you have it readers. My birthday extravaganza from over here on the left coast. Completely weird spending it without my sister and we probably won't do it again, but my friends stepped up to the plate and hit a home run.