Happy Birthday, Sonia!

miss you and love you xoxo

Obama as Prez, best birthday ever!

I wandered through Target this morning (what else would I do on my day off?) and saw amieroserotruck 's book on the shelf!  So exciting! 

We invited a group of friends up from South Florida for the weekend and a float down the river.  So much fun!  

Everyone arrived on Friday night, late, and Joe stocked his truck with what could be characterized as a portable bar, so we were up drinking late into the night.  Through a somewhat drunken stupor, we were able to plan Saturday's float, synchronize watches, wake everyone up at 7:30 am, fuel up with caffeine, and head out to the river. 

A four hour float down Rainbow River?  Awesome!  Well...

Hour One: Weeeeeeee!!!!
Hour Two: Hungry, but Yaaaayyyy!!!!
Hour Three, when it started to thunderstorm and turn cold: Ummm...
Hour Four, Michael and I, separated from the group, shivering in our inner tubes: Waaahh!

Once we collected everyone, found towels, and heated up in the cars, we refueled with Five Guys burgers and then everyone passed out at around 5 pm.  We all woke up at 8:30, the next morning.  Ha.

It was a really fun weekend.  I loved playing hostess.  Lola loved everyone and even Blanca was friendly!  

If anyone wants to visit us in Ocala, please do!

We're back from New York!

We flew up to Albany on Friday morning and picked up our bad ass Chevy Aveo, bitches, and drove to Saratoga Springs.  It is a seriously gorgeous place. 

We got breakfast at a local diner (we made a pact to not eat at any chain restaurants on the trip), visited the auto museum, where they were showing a special exhibit on barn finds.  Michael was like a kid in a candy store.  He really enjoyed it.  After that, we walked around the state park some and then crashed at the hotel.  A few hours later, we emerged, well rested, and found this sweet restaurant called Circus Cafe, where they serve you a dish of popcorn when you sit down. 

On Saturday, we drove north through the mountains to Lake George.  We got lunch at a lakeside place and then wandered down to the other side of the lake where there was a classic boat show.  We saw some amazing old boats and lots of cute doggies walking around.  We also visited Fort William Henry, which was pretty cool, though not original, since the French burned it down during the Revolutionary War. 

We went back to town for P and Ken's rehearsal dinner, which was lovely.  There was fried ravioli, which made several of us happy.  It was great to see all my DC friends again.  I've missed them.  P and Ken gave me a spectacular gift for participating in their wedding:  BEER!  I got four large bottles of a few locally brewed beers.  I am so excited to taste them all.  And they all made it home on the airplane safely.  We were worried.

On Sunday, we found yet another local diner for breakfast.  I ate the most ginormous apple pancakes ever created.  Then we took an aimless drive south for a few hours, stopping in whatever small town we could find, before heading back to Saratoga for the wedding.

The wedding was held at the gorgeous, historic Canfield Casino.  Our friend Ainsley was the mistress of ceremonies.  She was originally going to marry them, but New York state law doesn't allow that, so she introduced everyone and led a prayer and they had an officiant perform the vows.  All of P's little nieces and nephews walked down the aisle (they are ridiculously adorable).  When P walked down the aisle, I cried, she was so pretty!   P's father played a piece on his cello, which was beautiful.  Elena read a lovely passage.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  Simple, from the heart, and in a fantastic setting.

I also read my poem.  I was so nervous, but I got some laughs and tears, and everyone gave me complements afterwards, so score!  (No worries, sunrising.  You were right, the editing was unnecessary!)

And on to the party!  First of all, best food I've had at a wedding thus far, and as you guys know, I've been to many a wedding!  We danced for most of the party.  Even Michael danced!  He was a perfect date.  We had an awesome time.

Little P is married!  I am so happy for her and Ken.  So happy!  Yay!

On Monday, we drove back down to Albany and walked around.  We found the state capitol building, which was architecturally amazing.  We also toured the Museum of New York. 

We had a great trip!

Wow.  I have been so tired and busy lately, I've had no time to post. 

So Friday was my last day at work.  I went out to lunch with my boss to Ceiba, an amazing Latin fusion place downtown.  I got a killer Cuban sandwich with plantains and a key lime tart that blew my mind.  It was the craziest last day of work I've ever had.  I really didn't stop doing work until closing time.  Since there's no one taking my place once I was done, I couldn't leave any loose ends.  It was madness. 

Once work was off my plate, I was ready to go for my weekend of fun. Sonia, Bill, and Jess were coming down for the Virgin Festival!  Woo!

On Friday night, I was expecting the folks from Boston to make their way to my house by 2am, so I took the time to start packing my stuff for the move.  I had an unprecedented burst of energy and focus and cleaned out my closet, all the drawers, packed all my books, cleared the shelves, and the bathroom. 

I passed out around 1am and got a call from Sonia at 2am.  Traffic was so bad, they chose to stop in Delaware for the night.

On Saturday morning, Sonia called again to say that Bill (poor, poor Bill) had a work emergency and they would be on the road as soon as things were resolved.  I was a little bummed that we'd miss some of Saturday's lineup, but it wasn't life and death....well, I'm hoping Amy Winehouse doesn't die before I get to see her perform live...

They got to my house by noonish and Bill set up his computer to save the world.  We were almost going to reluctantly head up to Baltimore without him, but he was comfortable enough with work to leave with us by mid-afternoon.  We made it up to Pimlico in time to hear a bit of Ben Harper, and we were able to enjoy The Beastie Boys, and The Police.  All great.  And we were entertained by the fire dancing people.  They were hot and awesome.

On Sunday, Toby and I woke everyone up and we got breakfast at Bob and Edith's.  Yummy as forever.  And then it was off back north to Baltimore. 

Thankfully, Sunday's weather was less ridiculously hot and we could enjoy some overcast skies and cooling rain.  My favorite show of the day was thanks to Matisyahu.  He's the best.  Yasher Koach, dude!  I also got to see and hear Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Bad Brains, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and The Smashing Pumpkins.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs were easily one of the best shows of the day, or that I've seen in years.  Karen O is one of those performers who might be batshit insane and totally leaves all of herself on the stage.  Jess wondered if she does anything else all day or just sleeps until showtime and then I wondered if afterwards she scarfs down a pound of pasta. 

My 14 year old self was most looking forward to seeing the Pumpkins "reunion," but my 26 year old self was left less than satisfied.  I'm not at all in love with the new album, so the fact that they filled half the set with new songs didn't thrill me.  The classic they did pull out (Today, 1979, Stand Inside Your Love, Tonight Tonight) were fantastic.  The whole set was just a bit overproduced, too much reverb, too much distortion.  They brought the rock back, but it wasn't the same as it used to be for me.   I was pretty prepared for it to be that way, so they didn't disappoint!  Heh. 

All in all, a great festival.  The food was good, the layout of the land worked well.  We never had to wait in line for much, despite the fact the crowd was huge.  My only complaints were no fault of the organizers: one, despite there being trash/recycling stations every 50 feet or so, idiots still left their garbage everywhere! Morons! And two, witnessing an inebriated and trashy couple (dude in a muscle tee) f*cking in the open during the Pumpkins set.  Nasty!

On Monday, we barely made it out of bed to go meet Michelle and Suze for breakfast before everyone hit the road.  I want to apologize to Michelle and Suze, I don't think I was at all conscious during breakfast.  I barely even remember the morning at all!  I think I was sleep-driving and sleep-eating.  Next time, I promise to be more friendly.

So now I've just been packing and packing and packing.  Keeping busy keeps me from thinking about how sad I am to leave DC...but that's another post...

I've been so bad about posting lately!

Anyway.

San Francisco now ranks as one of the most gorgeous places I've ever visited, sharing the top of the list with the Lake District in the UK and Saint Paul in France. 

I stayed with my cousin Kevin and he showed me around.  We got amazing dim sum in Chinatown, explored Golden Gate Park, put our feet in the Pacific Ocean, drove down Lombard Street, went down to the Wharf to see the sea lions, toured the Presidio and saw the Yoda fountain at ILM, and just generally walked around enjoying the amazing weather!

Now I know what Francesca Lia Block was writing about.  The city really has light like a blue gem. 

And about that wedding...even more beautiful than San Francisco itself?  Yes.  Elena looked amazing and Chris so handsome.  I thought the ceremony was perfect.  A friend got ordained and lead it and friends and family read different passages and poems.  The reception was amazing, too.  The tables were set up outside in the sunshine.  All the table number signs had photos of Toby on them.  Aww.  And it was the best food and wine I've had at a wedding ever, hands down. 

Four weddings down, one more to go. 

Blast!  I was so excited that since Elena and Chris were leaving for the wedding and then would be gone for their honeymoon, I'd get to play the Wii nonstop for two weeks.  What I didn't know was that Elena took the Wii to California with her so friends and family could play it at the rehearsal dinner barbeque! 

What about my needs? 

Oh yes and I also pre-ordered Harry Potter from Amazon so it will arrive at my hotel in California on Saturday. 

I'm a big nerd!

I'm a big nerd who is very excited to go to California for this wedding!  Yayyyyy!

I went to Pub Quiz tonight at 4 P's with Alia, Josh, and Josh's law school friends John (he was actually awake!  Michelle calls him the Door Mouse because the guy is always sleeping!) and DeeDee. 

The quiz was pretty tough, but we thought we had a good shot at winning.  At 10:30, we had to turn the papers in to the pub owner (a guy with the thickest brogue ever) but we hadn't spent any time thinking up a good team name.  So just as he is snatching our page away to grade, Josh had no idea but to just write down his own name.  Team Josh!

So after we turned in the page, we all started calling and texting friends for answers.  (Sonia!)

At around 11, the quiz master took the mic again to read off answers.  After the first ten, we were sure we were well out of the running.  And in addition, some of the correct answers were totally incorrect!  (Sonia, he said Sheriff of Nottingham was correct as the snake in the Robin Hood movie instead of Sir Hiss.  WRONG!  We booed at that one.  Also, he said that in Pinocchio, Figaro is a fish.  Cleo is the fish!  Figaro is the kitty!)  Anyway.

But apparently my knowledge of Leon Uris novels is unparalleled.

So after that, he read off the winners.  Third place went to a team with a very dirty Harry Potter-related name.  Second place went to two guys sitting at the bar.  And then he got to first place.  And he said, "Now I hope this isn't just one guy..."  So I said to Josh, "Team Josh?"

TEAM JOSH! 

WOO!

We got $50 to spend next time!  We're going back Wednesday to defend our title.

Well I had a weekend of ups and downs!

Saturday was the best day and night I've had in a long time...

Angela and Heidi hosted P's bridal shower at Heidi's house.  We scrapbooked pages for a book for P.  I made little paper french toasts for mine in honor of our many many many servings of french toast at Bob and Edith's.  And I finally got to see Ainsley's preggy belly.  So cute!  It was a lovely little party.

That afternoon we had a barbecue at our house for Elena's birthday and for us to fuel up on protein and carbs before our night of debauchery in the form of Elena and P's co-Bachelorette Party.  For the barbecue, Elena and Ken made amazing pulled pork and I made a pile of cole slaw.  Yooli brewed up a stock pot of deliciously deceiving vodka punch.  Elena's sister Amanda (who is apparently my west coast doppleganger) flew all the way from California and frosted a penis cake!  Good times.

At 10pm, the Keg Bus arrived on the corner.  The thing was amazing.  A school bus with disco lights, a killer sound system, a bathroom, safety handles to drunkenly swing from, and a bar!  And the stop sign that pops out from the side of the bus says Drink!  We provided the keg and they drove us around DC to various bars.  We even had our own male beer wench named Andy to take care of us.  It was pretty brilliant.   It was also the best time we've had in ages!  Except, why do some guys think it's appropriate to suddenly grab a girl's butt?  Not okay!  How did your mama raise you?

On Sunday, I managed to wake up around 1pm and ate leftover cake for breakfast.  But then things turned to crap...

I had a softball game at 5pm.  It was nearly 100 degrees outside.  The ump made us play the full 7 innings.  By the 5th inning, I was completely flushed red, barely able to throw a straight pitch, but we of course had no subs, so I had to keep playing.  The team we played was full of assholes.  We ended up winning.  (Yay!)  After washing myself down with water (using a dirty sock) I made it to my car and slowly drove home (still dizzy) and sat in my car with the A/C on super high for about 20 minutes.  After that, I trudged up the driveway and lay on the living room floor for a bit longer, watched Chris play Tiger Woods on XBox.  Then I gathered all my strength to go up to my room to shower.  Then I threw up.  Then I tried to eat a sandwich.  Then I passed out for about an hour.  Then I woke up and threw up again, a lot.  My head was pounding.  Then I went to sleep and woke up this morning. 

I think I had heat exhaustion. 

Erin Doyle life lesson #1:  Don't drink all night and then wake up the next morning to play softball in the 100 degree heat, children.  It's not wise. 

Erin Doyle life lesson #2: Rent a Keg Bus!

This weekend was fun.  I got a lot done on the homefront on Saturday, a major clean of the kitchen, etc.  It felt really good. 

On Saturday night, Michelle and her roommates had a lovely Cinco de Mayo party at their house.  There were homemade tissue paper flags of Virgin Marys and Mexican roses.  And homemade black bean burgers.  And lots of beer.  And lots of librarians.  And Floridians.  It was a good time. 

On Sunday, Alia and Josh and I ate breakfast at Bob and Edith's and the weather was gorgeous so we could sit outside.  I also tagged along for bike shopping for Alia, but they didn't find her a bike until after they dropped me off.  My usual shopping karma for Alia didn't help this time! 

I had a softball game, first of the new season with Perfect Strangers, but we were short-handed so that doesn't bode well for the rest of the season.  I pitched and did pretty well until I killed my hamstring and then I couldn't really pitch or bat, but I had to stick it out since we had no subs. 

Today I smell like mint because I'm covered in IcyHot.  Sexy.