Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Since I’m well into tech for Rocky Horror, I haven’t had a whole lot of social plans- however Saturday night I battled the endless rain when tech ended so I could attend the blogger event of the year. Pretty much every blogger I knew or heard of (and some real life friends) was in attendance at Stentson’s last night and with all the tweets about the event, it was like my timelime came to life last night.

I was really overwhelmed the minute I walked in, I sent a tweet that I got out of the cab and when I walked up to the bar Maxie and others were waiting for me. I haven’t seen so many people in the our bloggy circle at one place at the same time. It took me 20 minutes to get to the other side of the bar just to say hello to the LiLu, who was clearly excited that she pulled off yet another stellar event.

It was a very memorable night out, and I could try and list all the twerps that were there but it would be a very valiant, yet incomplete effort. Check out Lilu’s “guestbook” for complete details.

After seeing all my blog favs I swung by Ben’s Chili Bowl to say hi to Ms. Chanelle was also in the neighborhood celebrating her birthday as well. I’ve never really stepped into Ben’s before and it was the mess I expected it to be. I didn’t have time to sit down for a half-smoke however, I’ll have to save that for another time.

I’d like to say that I then ended my night with a traditional trek back home and passing out in a mess, but I actually had some work to do (it is tech week after all.) I proceeded to edit videos til 6:30 AM. I was pretty tired and sober at the end, and three hours later I was up and back on stage for another tech.

Because sometimes you have to play hard then work hard.

P.S. It looks like I wasn’t the only one playing hard- is it just coincidence that now every blogger is now massively sick? Did they all get swine flu or something?

Tags: blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, rocky horror show, theatre, u-street

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

V not for Vendetta- but for Virgin.

It’s true. I was a virgin on Friday night but no longer.

Of course I am referring to my Rocky Horror Show virginity.

The E Street Cinema was holding a midnight screening of the show I happen to be working on and members of the cast thought it would be cool to go out and check it out. I’ve only watched the movie once (after I accepted the stage manager job) so I was excited to see it would be like live in a theatre with fans cheering and jeering.

We met at a cast member’s place at Thomas Circle for a little pre-game, and I know it was only two days ago that I said how much I really love my cast but being able to hang out with this group of people really makes everything I do for the show worth it. I pre-gamed with the skittles vodka that I had left from the summer.

At the theatre, we found out that the show was going to be shadow-cast by a local group called the Sonic Transducers. Members of the group were walking up and down the line looking for “virgins.”

A cast member pulled my hand up and someone rushed over to give me the mark of shame: a lipstick V on my forehead.

Live performances are typically known for rookie hazing, luckily we didn’t have to do anything too embarrassing.

The screening was really fun, it was one of the only times I could openly sing the numbers and not look stupid. Good thing I had a drink or two beforehand- because I can’t really sing, I leave that job to the cast.

People the audience were shouting callbacks to the screen during the screening, some were good, others were long, ridiculous, and basically lame attempts to attract attention. I know that callbacks are part of the culture and tradition but I think that they should be left short and simple. Too many people tried to recite an entire paragraph into the space of a pause in dialogue and I have to say it was bordering on obnoxious.

Yikes does that mean my show will be like that? I hope the run doesn’t get too obnoxious- I think most of the bad callbacks were coming from the front row who were full of friends of the shadow-cast.

Well regardless it was a fun night out and I am even more excited to put on our own version of the show. I hope to see you guys there on the 23rd!

Tags: blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, rocky horror show

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

TGIF right?

That’s usually most people think when Friday comes along, and for me I couldn’t wait for a weekend to relax and recover from an unusually stressful week at work (however stress at work is a growing problem that I’m not happy about.)

I made the most of my Friday night at Lilu’s housewarming party. She certainly had a big crowd in her new Columbia Heights pad, and all the A-list people were there in style. I even met a few other cool bloggers.

The night was nothing short of fantastic, there was a Pinata full of candy that nobody wanted to eat (probably explains why we are too old for it), and we crammed into Lilu’s bathroom to do some things we haven’t done since college.

Lilu’s wasn’t the only stop in the neighborhood that night, I also visited my pals Ryan and Sara and we hit up a couple of places to end the night.

Wonderland wasn’t that great since the patio was already closed and for the first time I went upstairs and saw the mosh pit of popped collars and sweat. Thanks but no thanks.

So we decided to go to Commonwealth where on the way we walk by an apartment building where a middle-aged Hispanic guy was looking out his window while drinking some Miller Lites. That’s where the oddest thing happened.

He struck up a conversation with us which somehow led to him coming down to give us some free beers. I have to say that the people are nothing but generous in Columbia Heights.

Oddly enough that was only the second weirdest thing to happen to us that night.

Once we got to Commonwealth it was getting late and the amount of people left inside told that story. We walked up to the bar and grabbed some seats, we sat at the end of the bar where there was this girl in a red dress to my left. She was fumbling through her purse and noticed me as soon as I sat down.

She had an empty can of PBR and a glass full of Guinness and turned to me to complain about how she was already cut off by the bartending. Upon hearing her slurred delivery and failure to sit up-right while telling me this I already figured she was telling the truth.

She proceeded to hit on me while I was talking with Ryan and Sara, she said she was a lawyer but the glitter on her face and the large amounts of cash she kept digging out of her purse told me otherwise.

Sara and Ryan walked outside to take a smoke and that’s when she made her big move.

She leaned into to me for the kiss and I did something I don’t believe I have ever done in my life.

I turned the other cheek.

Mind you I love making out with girls but there was something about this girl that just wasn’t right. Actually everything about this girl wasn’t right.

As she made out with my cheek she questioned my refusal of her advances, “what are you gay or something?” I wish I could tell her what I really thought, “No, definitely not gay but I enjoy a disease free body thank you very much.”

It’s a decision I won’t be regretting anytime soon.

Tags: blog, columbia heights, debauchery, fun times with friends, stress, work

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

“The Orioles is our elixir…the Orioles is like going to Jamba Juice and getting that cold-buster drink- just chug it down, 16oz of the Orioles.”

Those the words of the the great Bill Simmons on his B.S. Report podcast when talking about the Red Sox playing the Orioles. The Sox just blew through Baltimore and completed a weekend sweep of the birds. Sean, Amanda, and Bill came down to B’more to see the series and I drove up to hang out with them and see the game this past Saturday.

It was pretty tough getting up Saturday however, a Friday night at a douchebag hangout bar called McFadden’s will do that do ya. I’m not that much of a fan of the place however my blogger pal Martin had the hook-up with cheap drinks so I was going to just stop by for a drink.

Ya nobody ever stops by for just a drink.

Fast forward to 2 AM and many bad decisions later, I’m walking home a sweaty mess. Well I wasn’t as bad as other people that night.

Ok so anyways, the game.

After a lazy morning I finally made it up to B’more to meet up with my friends at Pickles, the only place to go when it comes to pre-gaming before Oriole games. If you haven’t been, it’s a bar across the street from Camden Yards and before games sell beer and food outside the bar in a block party-like setting. People are playing corn hole and just having a good time. It’s the kind of scene Nationals Park needs- but will probably not get anytime soon.

The game itself was great, Josh Beckett shined for both the Sox and my Fantasy Baseball team. Victor Martinez made his Red Sox debut after the team acquired him from Cleveland and he got an ovation despite being away from home. That’s Red Sox Nation. I was ragged on a little for scoring the game, but I wanted to make sure I had some talking points the next time I talk baseball on 4 Sport Boston.

After the game we headed out to Power Plant Live, but it was a rather chill night considering my escapades on Friday. First time I was able to make it out of Baltimore alive.

The week was capped off with a great BBQ dinner with Sara, Ryan, and Dave- I don’t think I’ve ever felt so full in my life.

Well probably after this staff lunch I will.

And I wonder why I’m never in shape.

Tags: baltimore, blog, capitol hill, debauchery, foggy bottom, fun times with friends, girls, orioles, red sox

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

I haven’t done a TMI Thursday in a good long time, but my recent weekend of destruction in Baltimore got me re-telling a story to my friends, and I might as well share it with The Internet as well.

Well earlier I talked about how Baltimore nights usually end in spectacular fashion, and last August was no exception.

It was Sarah’s birthday and the MoCo crew and I decided to celebrate at Howl At The Moon during a special “2 for 1″ happy hour.

Well I couldn’t make it up to Baltimore from DC until later that night. In fact arrived with only half an hour left to get those bargain drinks.

My Asian side told me I had to take advantage of a great bargain while it lasted.

Two for the price of one!

Ya I decided to start double fisting.I mean six drinks for the price of three? Think about how much money I’m saving!

As well as how much time I’m saving in regards of my trip to tipsyville.

Of course I kept drinking after the Happy Hour, and a few drinks later into the night it hit me.

I made a big mistake.

I walked down the stairs and stumbled to a place I thought I could sit and get a breather: The steps of nearby Baltimore City Community College.

As I sat there with my head held ups by my hands, a cop walked up to me and told me I had to get going. So I got.

I decided that it might be a smart idea to go back to the hotel we were staying at, so I hailed a Cab and stumbled in. I fed him an address and away we went.

I rolled down the window so I could stick my head out… because I was feeling all my mistakes coming back to me. From the sidewalk it probably looked like a cab with a guy’s head out the window suffering a severe reversal of fortune.

“Are you throwing up!?!” the cabbie asks.

“Nah I’m fine, keep driving,” I respond.

I was pretty good about keeping it out of the actual cab and all over the streets of The Wire.

We arrive at the hotel and I pay him his fee and I stumbled to the room… and realized I didn’t have the room key. So instead of getting another cab I decided to walk all the way back to the bar and rejoin my friends. At that point I walked it off enough to make it back to my friends and act as if nothing had happened.

“Patrick where were you?”

“Oh I was just outside- I needed some fresh air.”

Amazingly enough I wasn’t even the worst one of the group, as all the guys in our crew spent the rest of the night doing what I was doing in the cab.

You have to love Baltimore.

Tags: baltimore, blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, tmi thursday

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

“I woke up with substantially less money and vowed never to party again. Well at least til 4th of July.“

Those were my words earlier this week.

I only lasted til Wednesday. As Maxie would say, “life is hard.”

Technically it wasn’t partying, it was a happy hour, a happy hour I wasn’t supposed to be at originally.

Diana and Brett invited me to a happy hour over at O’Sullivan’s (conveniently located near my house) to celebrate Canada Day. I declined the invite citing I had an event to attend at the Spy Museum, however it appears I was mistaken. I showed up there and it was the wrong day. FML.

So I take the Metro back to Clarendon just in time to meet up with Diana and Brett. There was a fun crowd at the bar, full of red clothing and accents. Oh I love the accents.

Since Brett is Canadian the two took extra steps to celebrate properly, they showed up with a decorated cake that we presented to the bar’s owner who happened to be Canadian. So why is it an Irish bar? Well apparently his wife is the Irish one.

At the bar I had the oddest run in. Last year I went on a bar crawl with Rebecca, Adam, and some friends; and we met up with Seth, a friend of Camille who also used to work with Emily. I thought it was funny and we took a photo and sent it to Emily.

Fast forward to last night. I am cutting up the cake to pass around to bar patrons and I offer some cake to a table of guys sitting next to ours. They thank us and this one guy looks at me and goes, “hey I know you- you know Emily!”

I instantly remembered who he was.

“Ya didn’t we have some drinks together a while back? Pho. That’s your name right? Everybody calls you Pho!”

This much was true.

Fate had brought us together a year later under similar conditions. We took another photo to celebrate and sent that one to Emily too.

You would think that maybe he lives close to me or something but he actually lives all the way out in Dunn Loring. What are the odds?

So a few rounds of Lebatt Blue and some Poutine led to going back to my place to watch Role Models, the funniest film that involves LARPING.

Needless to say I woke up again with less money in my wallet, but not in as bad of a shape. However for lunch I just had 4 slices of pizza. I think I need the gym like whoa.

Tags: blog, canada, clarendon, fun times with friends

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Thanks to all the travel I did last year, I earned a free weekend car rental with National. I redeemed it earlier this month and Wendi and I went on a road trip to see The Hangover in Fredericksburg. Why Fredericksburg? It was where the closest Sonic was!

Plenty of fuel take to us from DC to the country and back!

On the way to Wendi's I saw the new Z-Burger, which I later checked out.

This place always smell like high school teenage awkwardness.

Traffic on I-95 never a good time

However hooking up Pandora to your car's stereo is!

Have you seen this many stores in a mall? That's Fredericksburg for you- the oasis in the middle of nowhere!

If I wasn't already going to Sonic for dinner, this would of been a great runner-up.

Sonic is amazing.

So many choices...

The onion rings taste like french toast I swear!

I was starving after the movie...

A great road trip!

Tags: blog, fredericksburg, fun times with friends, sonic, the hangover, travel, wawa

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Dmbosstone: I promised myself I’d stay dry this weekend

Dianaketo: HAHAHA! I plan on getting blitzed.

That pretty much sums up my weekend, it’s always tough to say you’re going to take a weekend off because when you do, everybody else decides to party harty.

Well that’s what I did and I was pretty good at doing it. Friday I popped in Iron Man and enjoyed a guilty dinner of Popeyes chicken. I missed the taste of red beans and rice. Saturday I finally caught up with blogging and proceeded to work off all the Popeyes I ate the night before, however the food I ate at the Anderson Family Weenie Roast did a good job at negating the workout. Overall I kept a low profile (except for two hours on Saturday night thanks to Caroline), because four straight weekend of debauchery means I’m resting til the 4th of July. Plus I gotta save some cash after last weekend’s antics.

Last Friday I went out to the Blue Jays/Nationals game with Rebecca and Adam, the game went into extra inning and I was tired so I went back home after the 9th. Despite my original intentions to stay in, I found myself back at home where Sarah and Mike had friends over for drinks. Next thing I know I’m getting dressed and we headed out to Jay’s Saloon, our new summer hotspot. Originally known as the shady bar next to our house (literally next to our house), we decided to have a roommate happy hour there and we discovered it’s an amazing place. It’s our new MacLaren’s.

Well after a walk around Clarendon, our crew sloshed back to the home but not before stopping at 7/11 to fulfill our drunken munchies. I saw Mike’s friend Jake buyout ALL the Taquitos on display. I guess he’s a big fan. The choice wasn’t popular with the drunken crowds that were also after some greasy, fatty, semi-Mexican goodness. Jake happily stuffed his face in line as the crowd jeered him for taking all the Taquitos.

On the way home from the the great Taquito heist, we took notice to a half-full can of Yuengling on the street, a fallen soldier in the war known as Friday night. Jake and Mike picked it up, arguing if it was beer or ginger beer. When confirming the identity of the can, they dropped kicked it into the street… hitting a Porsche convertible that was rounding the corner onto our street.

The douchebag driving the car wasn’t happy.

He pulled the Dane Cook move of feeling the imaginary damage to his car and then walked over to give us a piece of his mind. I was ready to back them up but the last fight I got in the middle of was years ago and my glasses are still broken from that encounter. Luckily we walked away unharmed and the d’bag drove away with the hot girl he was with.

And that was only Friday.

Saturday didn’t shape up to be any calmer.

I decided to hit up PQ’s housewarming party where I ran into f.B. Several cups of jungle juice later I was making my way through the ghetto that is Northeast DC to Ozio to meet up with Rebecca, Adam, Amanda, and Mattie.

A parked cab offers me a ride and when I gladly accepted and he then referred me to his friend that was parked next to him. However his friend was driving an unmarked blue station wagon with resident plates. I immediately questioned him on his legitimacy as a DC Taxi driver and the cabbie’s friend told me he was, “an independent DC driver.” I then threw him a lowball price to drive me downtown and he agreed- so I took the shady cab car.

I feared for my life and kept my hand on the passenger side door- ready to duck and roll if needed. At least it would be a good story for the bar. The cabbie was probably sixty something with a stray dog in the back, so I wasn’t too afraid of him- or maybe I should of been. Jungle juice makes me very trusting. The blur on his dashboard on the left- that was his bible. At least he was a man with faith.

After throwing him some dollars I ran out of the Taxi into Ozio where I enjoy a night of more drinks with the crew.

Around 1:30 or so I got messages from Maxie who I knew was out with LiLu and Cavy having a good time. I was suddenly convinced that it would be a great idea to meet up with them at Bourbon. I hailed another Taxi and made me way to M street. I thought that where Bourbon was. After entering what I thought was Bourbon I realized I paid a cover and walked into Saloun. I then hailed another taxi and spent what little I had left in my wallet to get to Bourbon up the hill on Wisconsin Ave. Even though I finally made it to the Bourbon in Glover Park. They were at the Bourbon in Adams Morgan.

This is why you don’t overbook yourself.

I managed to find a fourth cab to take me back home. I woke up with substantially less money and vowed never to party again.

Well at least til 4th of July.

Tags: blog, clarendon, debauchery, fun times with friends, georegetown, iron man, montgomery county

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

I’m not worried that this blog post is way overdue.

I’ve been busy trying to cover SilverDocs for DC Metblogs, and my past weekends were a trip in itself… but I’ll save that story for later. And this week has been crazy with going to all the Red Sox games this week and visiting the Spy Museum with PQ.

The tale I want to talk about today is my first time. My first time in a strip club.

Luckily it’s a tale I’m not telling on my own: all the hot blogs have already written about it. You know it was a good night out when it’s all over the hot pages afterwards. Do they still use that term, hot pages?

There’s a prologue to this story (you know some stories have prologues), I in Boston last summer for a Bachelor’s night out, you could call it a party but there weren’t any female dancers. Well that was the problem my friend and the groom wanted to fix it. He wasn’t from Massachusetts (or the USA for that matter) and he wanted to know where we could go look at some ladies.

So we’re in a bar in Faneuil Hall and he leans over and asks me, “Hey mate, do you know where the closest tittie bar is? You’re from here!”

Well I didn’t know. I knew that the Combat Zone is only now a legend and that the only places I knew were outside the city. A chat with the bartender confirmed my suspicions. No strip club for this group of guys.

Weeks after that night I was again enjoying some drinks with my newly married friend and some buddies. We were reflecting upon that night and when they discovered that I have not popped my red light cherry, they made a pact to do so.

Unfortunately Queen LiLu beat them to it.

The night started out fine, I was meeting up with the DC Blog crowd to enjoy some drinks at The Reef. The night started out pretty tame. Maxie was devouring Hummus, LiLu was dropping her phone from inappropriate places, nothing really that exciting.

Until the suggestion of walking down the street to Royal Palace was thrown out. Hearing the suggestion I mentioned how at 25, I was still a strip club virgin. Others not only heard this shocking truth, but also revealed that they too haven’t ever been to a strip club. I felt like I was magically transported to a support group. “Hi my name is Patrick and I’ve never paid for a lap dance.”

This sudden group revelation that we were mostly nerds drove the crowd to do one thing: go to the club… the strip club.

We were rolling pretty deep as we left The Reef and strolled down 18th. I remember that I was making calls on my cell and like magic Nicole ducked into a store and walked right back out with a pack of cigarettes, LiLu ducked into a pizza shop and walked right back out with a box of pizza. Of course time perception wasn’t my forte at the moment.

The Royal Palace was at the intersection of 18th and Florida, a point I walk by often but unaware that the windowless haunt was a strip club.A middle age Asian ushered us to some tables, shocked to see such a big crowd walk in on a Friday.

A girl in a bikini walked up and asked, “who’s getting married?!?!?” After we explained that nobody was getting married and nobody was celebrating a birthday, she too was shocked to see a crowd this size just want to come out to the Royal Palace. I guess that’s what happens when you hang around these folks.

Well it’s exactly what I expected: loud music, poles, women taking off clothes. As I sipped my expensive Bud Light I noticed a couple of women making a bee-line to our section. However there was no sweet talk, no lap dances (apparently they weren’t allowed at this club), but there were lots of handshaking. It was the weirdest greeting ever, all night women would walk up to me and just shook my hand. That reminds me, I should get a new hand- I might have scabees or something now.

Not Alice, but she was pretty much doing this kind of stuff

The club wasn’t really what you’d call Royal or Palace. In fact the place was kinda dumpy. We just took in some of the performances and didn’t really do too much else. Maxie ran up a couple of times to offer some cash and a few of the girls with us started their own dance show- but were quickly stopped by security, “that [pointing to the dancers] is the entertainment, not you.”

That didn’t stop us from making our own fun, we soon left the club where a lesbian paid Alice $20 to dance on the pole supporting the awning and she did.

Well much like other first times, there was a lot of hype leading up to it- but in the end it was kinda of a let down. Maybe the next time will be better… if there is a next time…

Tags: adams morgan, blog, boston, debauchery, fun times with friends, strip clubs

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

My experiences in the backyard have not always been great. However last Monday Caroline suggested that this past weekend would be a great time to invite some friends over, grab a few beverages, and play some games.

Now I’ve thrown a party at Highland Street before and I had the drill pretty much down, however when you throw a backyard element to it, there were a few more challenges that don’t always come up you plan an indoor affair. Here are some of the lessons I walked away with as I recall the lovely evening.

I Secretly Have A Swamp For A Backyard

Now this isn’t a new revelation if you read the story I mentioned above (click on my links, that’s what they are there for!) We were really fortunate to have great weather for the day of the party, but it came after many days of rain. As I was mowing the lawn in preparation (the chore isn’t that bad if you are into it) I once again carved out an area of taller grass that signified swamp. It wasn’t that bad since there was still plenty of space in the yard after I Lewis and Clark’d the area.

An Outdoor Party Means You Need To Think About Bugs

As I was looking at my freshly cut lawn, sweat dripping down my face down to my wife-beater, I thought two things:

1. I look kinda hot in a wife-beater
2. What are those little floating swarms around the yard?

Bugs. It was mid-afternoon but I could see them and realized they had to be addressed. Luckily we discovered a complete set of Tiki torches in the shed that I filled up and deployed around the yard. It actually made the yard look 5% more festive. We also had some Repel insect repellent stakes that we put out as well. When I lit them later that evening it looked as if we were smoking out the entire yard, however it did the job.

You Maybe A Redneck If You Show Up To A Package Store Wearing a Wife-Beater And Gym Shorts

Right after I mowed the lawn I went to pick up the keg with Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed showing up at Arlington Market looking as ghetto as the store. It’s hard to argue your order (when I showed up they claimed not to have my order but eventually did) when you look like you should be on Cops.

Tiki Torches Makes Anything Look Like Tribal Council

We pulled out the trusty door and after the sunset my backyard looked liked a scene from The Duel. Luckily we weren’t voting off anyone that lost at Flipcup… but now that I type that we should of played survivor style.

The Party Is Truly Done Once The Keg Is Kicked

At first I was afraid we wouldn’t have enough beer for the party but the keg we ordered lasted til 1:30 AM- which wasn’t that bad for closing time and it looked like fun was had by all as the crowd magically disappeared once word spread that the beer was gone.

Tags: blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, roommates

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Well another beach trip has come and gone. I already miss the beach and can’t wait for next year’s trip.

I didn’t accomplish any of the things I wanted to do while on the beach but I don’t care. What has now become my annual welcome into summer is more about relaxing and spending time with great friends. We had a really great group this year and I can’t tell anyone enough how much I enjoy this trip.

Now this won’t be the last you’ll hear me talk about The OBX, sometime this summer I’ll swim through 8 hours of tape and create some fun home videos!

Now it’s time to get awesome.

Tags: blog, debauchery, feelings/reflections, fun times with friends, obx, travel

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Stephanie had some wise words for the group as we sat around a bonfire on the beach last night:

“Relationships are like food, you can have two things, like peanut butter and chocolate, by themselves they are awesome but when you put them together they are even more awesome. You could also have two amazing things like chocolate and ketchup, and if you put them together it’s gross.”

To that analogy I said, “Well I must be ketchup then,” to which she replied, “Then Patrick, you need to find mustard.”

Tonight is the our last night on the beach and it’s a rather sad around the house, however we are ready to end the week with a bang. After a dinner at The Gingerbread House, we are getting ready for 7 v7 survivor flip cup.

It’s going to be sad returning back to the real world.

Tags: blog, debauchery, favorites, fun times with friends, girls, obx

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

I originally wanted to title this post, “The Gallon Challenge”, but Wendi told me that it refers to a more disgusting stunt that involves dairy products. I was well aware of the milk gallon challenge but didn’t know it was called that.

A little factoid about me, I enjoy keeping hydrated.

While I’m at work I have a 32oz Nalgene bottle with me that I used to use to make sure I got my 8 glasses of water a day. At first I used to try and drink 64 oz within my work day so I would know I’d be on point, but as the 8×8 theory continues to get debunked, I’ve mellowed out to casually drinking a bottle’s worth. None the less I try to drink water as a part of a healthy lifestyle- I’ve never been a fan of soda except as a mixer.

My co-worker Krissy recently caught on to my Nalgene habit and started bringing her own Nalegene to work as well. That got the ball rolling about our daily water consumption… and how extreme we could make it.

Now Krissy and I have been competitors in weird areas, but somehow last week we decided to see if we could drink a gallon of water.

At first, we had fears that an attempt to drink a gallon of water would be lethal, and we didn’t want to end up dead (especially if we didn’t get a Wii in return.) So we decided to make it an endurance challenge, could we consume an entire gallon of water over our workday. It’s not as easy as it looks. At best I was drinking 64oz of water over the course of a day, and that was tough enough, now I was going to attempt twice that in the same amount of time.

So last Friday I brought in two gallons of drinking water for Krissy and I to drink over the course of our work day.

Yummy Giant brand water!

After the first fill-up of the Nalgene I really thought it wouldn’t be that hard- look how much of a dent I made!

I was ready to rock and hydrate! At noon we checked-in to see how we were doing, we were both drinking at the same rate pretty much, Krissy was using a glass (left her Nalegene at home) so at lunch time she was actually ahead. I felt fine but Krissy told me she felt sloshy, “Patrick, I can feel the water in my stomach when I walk!”

Peeing was inevitable and encouraged, we weren’t trying to hold it in- just drink it up. By 3 PM I logged only three trips to the bathroom but Krissy had around five.  However at 3 I already drank two Nalgene bottles worth and now I was going into uncharted territory when it came to water consumption. Trying to drink the water became a little bit tougher as we hit the home stretch.

We agreed to do the challenge on a Friday since it was casual day and work was expected to be slow. That wasn’t the case, I spent the day editing videos for a presentation and I had to excuse myself twice during a review session so I could empty my bladder. My supervisor enjoyed the explanation of my frequent urges. However by the end of the work day Krissy and I chugged our last 12 oz and we finished our gallon challenge intact. And we only had to pee a combined 13 times!

To many it maybe silly but for us it’s just another life accomplishment.

Tags: blog, favorites, fun times with friends, work

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

The Snuggie: 60% of the time it works every time.

This past weekend while LiLu was doing her best car hood impersonation, I was making a dream come true. I got to put on a Snuggie. I didn’t realize it would make the ladies flock to me like Arlen Specter to the Dems. I probably wouldn’t of done so well if I had the Slanket.

Points to LiLu for being the most gracious host ever, it makes up for her Snuggie ownership.

Tags: arlen specter, blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, snuggie

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Before I went out to that rehearsal, I was in my room with Nicole when I got a knock at the door. My roommate Sarah came up to tell me that she got her truck stuck in the backyard.

The truck was stuck in our driveway behind two cars and she tried to drive around house through the backyard- a move that’s worked before however she miscalculated the fact it has been raining for two straight days, turning the yard into a mud sinkhole.

First Mike and I tried to push it but to no avail. That truck was stuck in the mud.

I then tried to hump the truck but that didn’t work either.

Sarah had to call AAA and a tow truck ran a line out and pulled it out.

So I hope all you out there remember not to take you truck into the backyard after it rains. It’s bad news.

Tags: blog, favorites, fun times with friends, roommates

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

This past weekend’s recap comes to you once again thanks to LiLu’s TMI Thursday.

Wendi: Well i don’t really have any food at home, so i like the idea of dinner…and drinking.

And with those words I made plans with my friend Wendi to go out and enjoy a Friday night of March Madness and alcohol. It was a tough week at work and Wendi had similar motives to get out and get our drunk on. So we agreed to meet up at Courthouse and check out Velocity Five, the new sports bar in the neighborhood. However like all new restaurants, there was already a long wait by the time I got there, so we settled for Summers instead. We enjoyed catching up over mediocre restaurant fare and Killian’s draft specials.

After we paid the bill we decided to work out way down to Clarendon in hopes of a nightcap at O’Sullivan’s. We headed down the street and stopped into Kitty O’Shea’s for our next round.

The Irish pub had a moderate amount of people, chatter and smoke filled the air s we ducked inside. We took our position in the back of the bar at two empty bar stools by the table-top arcade machine. I feared this would lead to lost income due to multiple sessions of photo hunt. We decided to play a different game.

I leaned over and suggested we play, “what’s his story?” It’s similar to what LiLu posted this week, we picked out someone and tried to figure out what’s his/her story. We started with a guy sitting by himself at the booth behind us. His hair was a mess and he was surrounded by cigarettes, two empty pints, and his cell phone. His head was down in his hands as he struggled to keep himself upright.

“Ok so he’s a Kansas fan who doesn’t have anybody else to watch the game with- so he came to the bar. Too bad Michigan St. is kicking their ass- probably why he’s drunk.”

We go back to our drinks and a few minutes later he gets my attention:

“Excuse me, um could you pass me that ashtray?”

I do so and return to my drink only to get interrupted one more time:

“Um I’m sorry but um uh can I borrow your cell phone? I need to call my brother and mine just died.”

I offer him my cell phone and he proceeds to engage in a what felt like the longest conversation you’d ever have with your brother.

“Patrick, you better make sure this guy doesn’t run away with your cell phone,” warns Wendi.

Eventually I get my loaned phone back with thanks, “hey man thanks a lot- I’m going to buy you a drink!”

Looks like Karma is alive and well.

A few minutes goes by and his brother shows up, a man in his mid-thirties with short blond hair. He appeared almost as drunk as his younger sibling.

“Hey Tim! You need to buy that guy and girl a drink- he let me use his cell phone!”

I politely tell him he didn’t need to- but at Tim’s instance he orders up two Irish car bombs for him and his brother- and two Soco & Limes for Wendi and I. Nothing too serious.

Happy we got some free drinks we continue to watch the games until Tim offers to buy us more drinks minutes later. I tried to thank him and tell him it was not necessary- but he insisted.

“Anything you want! It’s on me!”

So Wendi, Tim,  his younger brother (whom I found out was Keith), and I did another round. Then Tim noticed we were sitting by the arcade machine:

“Dude let’s play trivia- the three of us, one team!”

We politely follow along and we played a couple of rounds of trivia- we ended up being pretty knowledgeable. To celebrate Tim wanted to buy us more drinks.

He gets us another round- shots for me and Wendi and Irish car bombs for him and Keith. However Keith wasn’t really following directions, when handed the car bomb he puts the shot down on the table and starts drinking the Guinness in a state of confusion. Tim asked if I wanted a car bomb- he couldn’t do one without a partner.

The way my body works I typically don’t do well with big meals followed by drinking- the intake of food prevents me from getting drunk so I really just get full and maybe gassy. Even though I’ve consumed quite a few drinks before this moment I was actually still sober due to the patty melt soaking up all the booze. I did know however that when one has 2-3 drinks within a 30 minute period things are getting fun. So my body was going to have a battle of epic propotions soon- who would win?

As I guzzled down the car bomb I knew I would soon find out.

After a few more rounds of trivia Tim proceeds to tell us his life story, he is an architect who lived in Ballston and he is currently working on a project by Chain Bridge. He also made some lewd comments about Annie (the orphan from that musical) when he got us some Red Headed Sluts.

He then proceeded to get into a long winded discussion with the bar tender over his tab- his was ordering drinks at the bar even though he and his brother were sitting at a booth and were under the jurisdiction of a waitress. He ran up two tabs.

During his argument I lean over to Wendi and suggested we move on. I didn’t want to know how much sketchier he could get after saying how Punjab got a great view when chasing Annie up a ladder.

We pay for our tabs and leave but not before Tim tried to give me his business card:

“I live in Ballston man- you are always welcome to my place!”

He tried to hand me his last business card- which I tried to refuse because he had scribbled notes on the back of it, perhaps he needed they were passwords or phone numbers. He insisted it was nothing and I reluctantly accepted the card.

We escape Kitty O’Shea’s and we walk down the street to Clarendon. We decided to stop into Mister Days to watch another game. I normally don’t head over to Mister Days on the weekend because it transforms from Sports Bar to discotheque. However we went in anyways and we snagged a table to watch the end of the Kansas/Michigan St. game- which was coming down to the wire.

My stomach also started coming down to the wire.

The cocktail of alcohol and ground beef start to make funny noises.

I excused myself to head to the bathroom- and as I ran upstairs I saw the lengthy line to use the toilet.

I don’t think I was going to make it.

But then I realized that I was only a block away from my house and I decided to make a dash.

I ran downstairs as the game ended and everyone celebrated. I waived Wendi over and told her that the line was way too long and I, “had to really go.”

We exited the bar and I told her to excuse me as I broke into a sprint to the house. She ran behind asking, “if you have to go so badly why don’t you pee in a bush?”

I bolted into my house and ran upstairs where I cleansed myself of the demons in my stomach.

A few minutes later I made my way down the stairs- and I heard the words I hope I wasn’t going to hear.

“Hey can I use the bathroom?”

A wave of embarrassment fell over me as I said, “sure” and tried to see if the downstairs one would do- but then I realized that one was out of service due to frozen pipes bursting a couple of months ago.

Make note: get downstairs bathroom fixed ASAP.

As she headed upstairs I was trying to make myself disappear but I was still there as she came back down after using it.

“Ok well I guess it’s late- I should get going…sorry you got sick…”

It was a very awkward goodbye.

Tags: blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, march madness, tmi thursday

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

This week’s recap is brought to you byTMI Thursday, a blog meme column by Live It, Love It.

I had ambitious plans this past Saturday. I wanted to run some errands around town and I had to get my geek on and prepare for my upcoming fantasy baseball drafts.

Well Friday night I get several e-mails, text messages, facebook notes, smoke signals, etc. about a “Kegs & Eggs” gathering at my friend’s house down the street. I wasn’t planning on drinking a lot of beer but I did want some eggs. So I replied to his text to show up the next day at 9 AM.

I arrived the next day around 10 AM and the scene was really chill: no eggs, no people. At first I suspected that it was going to be a quiet morning. I was wrong.

The door flew open and one of housemates came walking in with his girlfriend and a crowd of people. Next thing I know there’s bacon on the grill, games of beer pong were going in the front yard, and everyone is having a great time. I played a game of beer pong but it wasn’t til a group game of Kings erupted that my goals of productivity flew out the window. Then she came along.

She was tall and blonde, not the type I usually find myself with. As people went inside to enjoy some eggs and warmth she challenged me to a game of 1 on 1 beer pong. Next thing I know we are sitting on the porch and we somehow start talking about Internet videos- and she brings up 2 Girls 1 Cup.

“Wait, you’ve never seen 2 Girls 1 cup!?! You need to see it right now!”

That’s when I knew things were getting interesting.

She took my hand and dragged me back inside in search of a computer. The one downstairs had the blue screen of death and I began to explain how I really didn’t need to see the infamous video. I was feeling a little buzzed and I was trying not to kill that. She didn’t take no for an answer. She took me upstairs and like any teen movie you’ve seen- you know that when you go upstairs, something is going to happen.

Turns out a lot of things were already happening.

We ran into my friend upstairs who was excited to point out that another roommate was hooking up with another girl at the party. It explained the crowd around said roommate’s door. I found the booty paparazzi a little bit immature & random but so was the event that was about to happen.

We go into an empty bedroom and she tries to turn on the computer, maybe she really does want to show me porn.

When the computer boots up to a password protected login prompt I quipped that it looks like I won’t be seeing 2 Girls anytime soon.

That’s when she reaches over me and closes the door.

She steps towards me and as she put her arms around me I knew what came next.

In the words of Penelope Trunk, “it is a very good kiss, slow and soft, and a little bit wet.”

Time slowed down in that 15 second span, then it sped back up and things got a little hazy- which often happens during alcohol fueled endeavors such as this one.

There was a knock on the door.

I hear y friend’s voice- seeing how we both went in and have yet to come out, his curiosity was probably peaked.

I stop him from opening the door and lock it. I don’t need to become the next  victim of the paparazzi crowd outside, but I know my time is limited before full on announcements of hooking up are made.

We embrace and make-out for several more minutes, I fumble with my glasses and questioned my choice in not wearing contacts that morning. Of course I also figured I was only over for breakfast but it was now 1 PM and I’m having a little bit more fun.

She throws herself onto the bed and my head gets the better of me.

I do not want to hook up with her in my friend’s roommate’s bed- it’ll haunt me every time I’m over.

After some rolling around I lean into her ear and told her, “let’s take this somewhere else.”

She looks at me and asks, “well aren’t you coming with me to Shamrock Fest? All of us are.”

In fact this crazy Kegs & Eggs is a pre-game event for Shamrock Fest over at RFK, most of the crowd there were planning on going.

She doesn’t want to but we eventually are forced to cool it off with the hallway crowds getting more and more ansy. I felt like we were playing seven minutes in heaven with the entire party cheering. I start to think how much action was going on with two bedrooms occupied at that very moment.

We walk out of the room and re-join the party, that has moved on into my friend’s room. He looks on as our friends vandalize his facebook account and try to print out Shamrock Fest tickets on his printer. It would explain the weird wall posts from him later that day.

The crowd moves downstairs out of his room and we found ourselves alone in his room. As if a switch was flipped she throws herself onto his bed and propositions me one more time. After suggesting we perhaps not turn this into a traveling make-out show she proceeds downstairs. My friend re-enters his room and does what any friend should do in that situation, he offers me some protection.

Before going downstairs, I had the urge to empty out some of the beer I’ve been drinking. I exit my friend’s room and I go into the neighboring bathroom.

I am standing in front of the toilet admiring my piss when I hear a knock at the door. I turn around and see one of the housemates push the door open. Luckily the bathroom was laid out so I wasn’t facing the door in any obscene way.

As I shouted for the intruder to close the goddamn door I see him leave and push the blonde into the bathroom. He then proceeds to close the door.

After quickly zipping up my pants I ask WTF is going on. Her answer came in the form of another make-out session. (photo courtesy of Flickr user Crissy Teena)

We head back downstairs and I feel as if everyone’s eyes are on us, despite the reality that everyone was occupied with their own debauchery.

As we sit down on the couch her arm reaches around behind me. I take her shoulder and pull her head next to mine. She leans for a kiss but I’m a little hesitant, I’m not a fan of public displays of drunken affection so early in the day.

She was- after a couple of quick smooches so lays herself on the couch, wanting to take things a bit further- right in the middle of the packed living room. A housemate makes the keen observation that he thinks that girl wants me.

This situation needs to get out of this house because we are already getting out of hand.

She continues to convince me to go with her to Shamrock Fest. I don’t have tickets, I had other plans, and I didn’t feel like spending money to sit in the rain. I suggest that perhaps we should just hang out maybe walk back up the street to my place. She thinks it’s a wonderful idea. In fact she’s so eager to leave she waits for me on the porch without any shoes or socks on.

As I try and make an exit I am met by various roommates for their take on the situation:

“Dude you need to hit that man- she totally wants you!”

“Ya man do it- just don’t do it in my room.”

“Ya and don’t do it in my room either- do it in my brother’s room (his brother being the housemate I mentioned earlier- the one who already got some that day.)”

I don’t want to do it in anybody’s room, especially the room that was already used for sex.

Then out comes the line that changes everything.

“She’s a nice girl man, but I think she has a boyfriend or something.”

I walk over to her and offer her a glass of water, and I casually ask if she’s seeing anyone. She tells me no and stands by it after further questioning.

As I walk back to the guys I am met by her friends as the party prepares to leave for Shamrock Fest.

“I think you need to know she has a serious boyfriend.”

Well things are just shaping up great now.

The party quickly takes sides as guys take me into one room and the girls take her upstairs. All of a sudden I feel like I’m in the ring and I’m staring my opponent down. Except there really isn’t one, it’s clear that I should make a clean exit before things get potentially explosive.

Thanks to hours of drinking the advice I’m getting it questionable at best- some say that I should still hit that, others question if there really is a bf, I cannot believe what I’m hearing.

This is where I’d like to say that the answer to this situation was clear the moment I heard she had a boyfriend and lied to me about it. I need to walk away.

I grabbed a friend and former roommate who was enjoying watching all this unfold and told him to get me out of there.

I was met by the girls who wanted to let me know that “I did nothing wrong” and that “you are totally her type- if she didn’t have a boyfriend she would totally hook up with you” I don’t even know what to think of that as I get the hell out of one of the craziest morning parties I’ve been too.

We proceeded to get into my car and he drove us to Costco, to do the errands I originally wanted to get done.

I’m sure I did the right thing but I have to say things got way too dramatic way too fast. What is it about those situations that turns perfectly mature adults into gossiping 15 year olds?

Tags: blog, debauchery, favorites, fun times with friends, girls, holidays, shamrock fest

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

This past weekend was all about family.

This past Saturday I was having lunch with my Aunt Jackie at Coastal Flats when my mom called. It appears that a distant relative passed away in Fairfax. A delegation of uncles and aunts were going to leave Chelmsford to head down here but my grandmother was admitted into the hospital with an infection- so I was asked at the last minute to attend services on Sunday.

Now allow me to explain the family tree in this situation. My Aunt Lan on my Dad’s side married Uncle Hai… Hai Pho. That’s right Lan Pho married Hai Pho- who would of thought there were other Phos out there besides my family. Uncle Hai’s older brother passed so I was going to a meet with an entire family of Phos that I was probably related to somehow but not really. At least we all had the same last name, always a conversation starter.

So at the services on Sunday my Aunt and Uncle invited me to a family dinner Monday night at (where else) Seven Corners. I can’t turn down an offer of free food and a chance to catch up with my cousins Mai and Quang- so I headed over to Falls Church after work and I walked into the restaurant (ironically next to a noodle shack called Pho 75.)

The restaurant was empty except for a reserved half of the dining room full of tables and tables of Pho family members. I recognized a face or two from childhood birthday parties but for the most part I was walking into a family that I kinda fit in with but not at all at the same time. My uncle spotted me and quickly introduced me to a family member who was the MC of the dinner, who welcomed me and asked if I was ready to introduce myself to the family.

He shouted, grabbed the attention of the entire restaurant and said, “I want to introduce a new branch of the Pho family here today.” He then looked to me and I sheepishly stood up and introduced myself, my family affiliation, and my at the request of the crowd- the region of Vietnam I probably came from. I was nervous that the majority of the crowd may not know English but my mom assured me that, “they are very advanced.”

I proceeded to enjoy dinner with my cousins and their cousins, a table full of 30 something married couples. I worked the table pretty well, contributing to their conversation of Facebook and social networking. I did well enough that I was asked where a good place to go out in Arlington would be- the cousins wanted to get drinks after dinner but wanted to stay in Virginia. I was then invited out to the Liberty Tavern to join them for some fun.

As I walked out to my car I pointed out my plates and proclaimed that I must have the coolest plates in all of Virginia. The cousins immediately rushed over to start taking cell phone pictures.

After drinks at Liberty Tavern I knew I was on a roll- and I kept it going with my roommate Caroline with drinks while watching The Office. A pretty good night for a Monday.

The rest of the week was equally as busy. Tuesday Melissa and I went out to check out a staged reading over at Wolly Mammoth Theatre. I’ve never been to a staged reading and I was impressed with the quality of the performance for something done by acting students with only four hours of rehearsal.

Wednesday I sat in for a half of the 76ers/Wizards game. I believe the organization has reached a new low when the cheerleader couldn’t perform better than the team. When the Wizards Girls game out for their 1st half performance they huddled into their usual pre-dance stance but their song didn’t play. A variety of other tunes came on but it apparently wasn’t the right one. After 90 seconds of shuffling songs the girls ran off the floor to the boos of the crowd. Is it next season yet?

Last night Wendi and I saw the Odyssey over at the Foundry Theatre. I was able to meet the group I’d be working for starting next week as well as walk around the space. We had dinner over at Teaism, a quaint tea house that serves interesting boxed meals.

Now this weekend won’t be too eventful, I just finished Waltz With Bashir (don’t worry I’m done Oscar Watch reviews) and now I’ll be catching up on things before I jump into another theatre production- but I am looking forward to great weekend out next week.

This week was the start of lent, a period that means nothing to me but I know there are some others out there giving something up for 40 days- I’d love to hear what you are giving up. If I had to, I was thinking about giving up wearing clothes around the house, but Caroline wasn’t ready for that.

Tags: 76ers, asians, blog, clarendon, debauchery, dupont circle, falls church, family, favorites, foundry players, fun times with friends, roommates, the office, theatre, tyson's corner, waltz with bashir, wizards

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Well this week we finished the run of  Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. After the final show on Saturday we had to strike the set and take items to the storage vault, it’s been a long time since I had to strike a set but it went rather well- we had everything out of the theatre in 90 minutes. The cast party featured a great spread from Red Hot and Blue as well as Big Daddy’s favorite dish: Hoppin’ John. We spent the night reciting lines and reminiscing about the run. While it wasn’t the wildest cast party I’ve been to, it was really nice to hang out with the cast and crew. I really enjoyed working with the Arlington Players and I hope to work with them again real soon.

Now that one show is over it’s on to the next one. I am the production stage manager in the Foundry Player’s production of The Rabbit Hole. The director I just worked with is a board member over there and recommended me for the job. I’m really excited to work on another show as I slowly start my DC theatre career.

This past weekend was pretty destructive, besides all the cast parties I took part in, I spent Sunday at Sarah & Ryan’s apartment watching episodes of Big Love. Between this and the episodes of United States of Tara I watched for work, I have to say that premium cable makes really good TV shows. Of course I do not need any more TV shows to watch right now.

Well I have a lot of blogs to catch up on before Oscar Sunday, so stay tuned for a flurry of reviews!

Tags: arlington players, big love, blog, cat on a hot tin roof, debauchery, foundry players, fun times with friends, montgomery county, oscars, rabbit hole, theatre, united states of tara

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

I started 2008 with a lot of drinks, a whole lot of kisses, and  some frustration. The second half of 2008 sped by me as I work kept me busy and stressed. The travel, the weekends on the job, the extra hours in the office all made it hard to realize that it’s already 2009. But it is and I am lucky to now have a chance to rest, relax, and reflect on what exactly just occurred.

One thing that I’m proud of in 2008 was the changes I’ve made to this blog. Patrick told me a couple of weeks ago that I’ve been blogging, “before it was called blogging.” I have had a website where I write my thoughts since high school but this was the year that I really think I got the whole thing down.

Besides bringing the technology of the site into the new millennium, I also took a look at my writing style and really tried to find a format that makes sense for me and hopefully makes my writing more interesting to read for you. I credit the changes from the increased exposure I had to other blogs. Looking back 2008 was the year I really learned what blogging was all about even though I’ve been doing it since the mid 90s.

There’s also one more change that I’m kinda happy about:

I don’t like bringing a lot of attention to it cause I don’t want to be really obnoxious about it. I also think I have a long ways to go before I’m totally hot- but I’m getting there. Weird that I actually think that I might be good looking- well at least more good looking than I usually think I am. In 2008 I lost 20 lbs and maybe if I’m lucky I won’t gain it all back. This is the only time I’m going to mention my weight publicly- I already get embarrassed enough when coworkers bring it up. However after these holidays I’m going to have to redouble my efforts.

The end of 2008 also found me in different surroundings. While I still live in Arlington, I moved out of Cleveland Street onto Highland street. While it wasn’t a big move, I am absolutely in love with the new house I love in it’s great living with Sarah and Caroline. I am really happy here and I think a my new digs will play a big role in 2009.

School

I’ve spent this past year doing some thinking about where I want to go next with school. I definitely want to go to Grad School, I want the additional experience, knowledge, and credentials that an additional degree brings. This year I started looking at different schools and programs. At first I was looking at film & video programs but I realized that while I’d love to get another degree in that area- I already have a deep background there and I wanted to learn something different. I have decided that I want to learn more about PR/Communications so I can continue to expand my role at work.

My goal this year is work on applying and getting into a program for Fall 2009, it will be an interesting year to start up school again.

Work

Last year I wanted to make an impact at work for 2008 and that certainly has happened. This year I have stepped up into a bigger role in the company. I’ve taken on more responsibilities and I have seen a huge increase in work especially towards the second half of the year. During this past summer and fall I got involved in regular trips between Washington DC and Boston where I have been involved in a lot of different projects in both locals. While the work this year resulted long work hours, days, and weeks; it was nice to find myself back home a few extra times this year.

I don’t know what 2009 will bring but this break has given me a chance to rest and reflect and I’m ready to take on the beast again for another year. This year I hope to not lose a step and continue to make the impact I’ve been making in 2008.

Friends

2008 was a great year with my friends. Work has been different without Chanelle and I certainly miss the Chanelle-ness she brought to the job. Work has also a bit more intense for everyone which has led to less lunch hours with Krissy and Mallory. However Pho lunches with Krissy, Gloria, and Kristen need to continue in 2009. However Ryan and Neal and I were able to get together for poker this year and a goal this year is to host some Poker nights at my new place. Looks like I’ll be losing lots of money this year. It’s another goal to have

Without Chanelle there’s certainly been a different dynamic in the office with Peter and Dave- my office is definitely now a gentleman’s club. Talk about sports, and female cable personalities fills our day and I love every minute of it. It’s also been great to have Peter around to help me root for our local sports teams.

As always I had some great times with my MoCo favorites (Sarah, Falkor, Doug, Katie, Emily), while they live a bit further now we managed to still get together for some nights out on the town, sporting events, and Thanksgiving football game I’ll never forget thanks to Falkor. Katie and I have shared many conversations- unfortunately most of them revolved around cougars and her boss. All of us (and Stephanie) have shared many awesome trips, including numerous rampant nights in Baltimore. 2009 will be different with Sarah and Falkor leaving for Africa- thank goodness they will be coming back for the OBX!

I had some great times with Rebecca, Adam, and company. Whether it was a July 4th bar crawl, a night out at Local 16, or even a night of Monopoly, I always have a great time with them. They have also become close confidants to a lot of life’s situations.

In 2008 LJ and I enjoyed numerous Red Sox games while pulling me into ridiculous fantasy football leagues. Adam made sure both of us were actively involved with the Obama campaign whenever possible.

I’m always able to laugh when I’m with Wendi and I’m happy we’ve been able to catch each other when we do.  I have to admit I haven’t gotten to spend a whole lot of time with Ian but hopefully we’ll be able to catch up soon.

Back home in Massachusetts I’ve had plenty of chances to keep up with Dave, and Bill thanks to my business trips. 2008 also saw me reconnecting with Jimmy Clancy and his new wife. I continue to keep in touch with Patrick even though he’s always in a different state every time we catch up. 2008 was also the year Sean moved back to Massachusetts form Florida, and now the crew was complete this year. Good times were had with Sean, Mike, and Joe- including my first game at Fenway Park and a crazy night on Emily’s birthday.

I now expect two things to happen every year during the holidays: an annual reunion of Me, Phil, and Tessa; and an annual gossip lunch with OC.

I also got to reconnect with a whole group of DMB friends this year, Alyssa, Kristen, and Michele. Now that Alyssa and Michele live in Boston, they are two more names I’ll have to add to the “must see” list when I go back home.

Friends like Carolyn and Laura moving away while others like Michael Anthony Gregorio move in. DC is a transient region so I treasure all the moments I get to spend with all of my friends.

Family

I started getting weird e-mails this fall. They were from various colleges and universities trying to get my to apply to their schools for an undergraduate degree. When I saw that the e-mails were addressed to Daniel, I realized someone has mistaken my e-mail for his and I got spammed. It’s weird to think that my little brother is almost ready to go to college.

While that’s going my sister Kim is making waves at FSC, finishing a summer in Europe and getting ready for Junior year. Man I’m starting to feel old. Meanwhile Diana is continuing to impress me with all the great books that are being pumped out at her publishing house. Her and Mike also got engaged in 2008.

2009 has lots to look forward to with my family, my favorite cousin Christina is turning 21 and will continue to rip up UMass and this month I get to catch up with my favorite Aunt.

Love

I went out with Rebecca this past weekend and she told me that she never knew a time that I wasn’t seeing someone. That is such a weird statement. But then again my game has never been as good as it’s been. 2008 was by far the busiest year when it comes to women, and I’m glad to say that I was able to keep crazy FSC bitches out of them… well for the most part…it’s funny how some women just never go away. It’s also funny how things can pick up just where they left off after some time.

I also randomly hooked up with some girl from New Jersey. Always awesome to do the walk of shame from L’enfant Plaza.

This summer I dated a number of interesting women. Two were summer flings, the kind that come into town and before you know it they are gone just as fast as they came. One was a Senior over at Harvard- could she be the smartest person I’ve ever dated? She’s probably not as smart as the Carnegie Mellon grad that’s now working as a programming at Microsoft. She was a student of Randy Pausch, a great man who I (and many others) learned about this year and was sad to see him pass on. Miss Seattle also led me to another girl whom I dated a couple of times but wasn’t anything special, she did laugh at all my jokes however.

I briefly dated one of Sarah’s co-workers and while she was really fun and has introduced me to everything Eastern Market has to offer, I could see she was never going to be available the way I wanted it to be.

Nobody is going to let me live down Sean’s wedding. It’s going to be a memory for me right up there with Minneapolis. At least I still talk to both girls.

Also let’s never forget about that teacher from Walpole. I’ve never felt so honored in my life. Maybe I should just spent the rest of my days as Cougar bait.

The day before Halloween I met Carrie and so far she wins the record for girl I’ve dated the most. Then again it’s a pretty easy record to set. She’s been very good to me these past few months.

As always I have no love goals for 2009- I will continue to play everything out just like I always do.

Travel & Special Events

2008 has to be the year of the weddings. I went to a lot of them.

The first one was Jimmy Clancy’s and it was a trip down high school memory lane. The ceremony was at St. Mary’s where I spent my days as a Boy Scout and ended at Andover Country Club where we had our senior banquet.

After that it was Rebecca and Adam’s wedding and I have to say that it was by far one of the craziest weddings I’ve been to. Anytime I get a knock on the door the next day from a half dressed Paul Depoian means that it was a good time.

Melanie and Jim’s wedding was the most artsy, they had a really interesting arrangement at the altar. While I was only 1 of 2 FSC representatives there I still managed to have a good time with all of their friends.

I lucked into Sean and Amanda’s wedding and I definitely made the most of it. That’s all I gotta say.

2009 will bring probably only 1 wedding but I’m going to need a break after this past year of weddings.

2008 saw another great trip to the OBX- right now I’m working on the videos for them and hopefully get them out before our next trip in May. It was great having a record 30 people come down. What probably made 2008 was the Jenga and the flag stealing. While 2009 will see a crowd not that high, it will still be great times.

Once again I also made a trip out to Hershey, PA to Hershey Park. This time we also got to celebrate Falkor’s birthday in a local bar across the street from the hotel. I’ve never seen a bar tab that high til that night.

I also made 2 Obama related road trips this year: one to Philadelphia and another to Roanoke. I’m really happy with the work and travel I put into the campaign and I hope that in the future I will continue to become active election campaigns.

There were some DMB trips made this year, the first one was to SPAC where I got visit Diana along the way. The other was at Nissan Pavilion where I went to LeRoi Moore’s last show.

I finally found some time to take the trip into Pittsburgh, I visited Melanie and Jim and experienced a little bit of what the Steel City has to offer. I was surprised at the how short the trip was and it’s definitely not out of the question for a repeat trip in 2009.

I certainly traveled a whole lot in 2008. I hope to do some more in 2009. Is this the year for the Cruise? Is this the year for Canada? Maybe it’s finally time for me to visit the West Coast- who knows where I’m traveling in 2009, but I will probably figure it out for this summer.

Hobbies

Last year I wrote about finding a new hobby besides fantasy sports. Well I have to say that I’ve taken blogging into a new level that it’s become a serious pastime of mine. In 2008 I became a contributor to DC Metblogs and it has kept me busy. This winter I was also given the opportunity to get back into a long lost passion- theatre. In early 2009 I will be working on a production with the Arlington Players and I hope that 2009 will see more headway into a possible comeback into theatre.

Are there other crazy activities I might get into? I’d want to make a goal but I can see that 2009 maybe busy enough.

In Conclusion

2008 was a crazy busy year for me on many fronts. While I have been busy with many things I’ve seen myself change in many ways. All along the way I’ve still been rely on the support and encouragement of all my friends and family.

I hope 2009 will be a year that helps define my future here in Washington DC. I hope that this year I figure out my school situation and that I continue to explore new and old passions and hobbies.

I also hope to that I can look to a summer of fun travels, starting with the OBX and ending with who knows what.

But the biggest resolution I want to make is to have a good time and to make others happy- because isn’t that all we want in life?

Tags: baltimore, barack obama, blog, boston, debauchery, election 2008, family, favorites, feelings/reflections, friends, fun times with friends, grad school, hershey park, l'enfant plaza, new york, nissan pavillion, obx, philadelphia, poker, randy pausch, roanoke, u-street, umass, washington dc, webpage, weddings, work, year in review