World of BP Tales from a techie – photophile

Birthday + Snow = Awesome

Wow, that's all I really can say.  There's a fuck-ton of it outside.  Ir reminds me of the 5 years I spent up at college in Rochester, NY.  Yes, I love the fluffy white stuff.  I went out and walked, jumped, and frolicked in the snow.

It started Friday night, just after the birthday festivities were winding down at Brickskeller.  That was a good time.  3 of us at work have birthdays all within a week of each other.  So we combined forces and got a bunch of people to go rock out with some tasty beer, and tasty foods.  We were going to be hitting up Ray's the Steaks, however they couldn't seat the nearly 20 of us until 2230, so we skipped there, and got a whole part of the backroom at 'skeller.  Elaine was adorable bringing me a cake, was delicious.  So we're halfway through dinner before Sarah shows up with her roommate Tina sporting a tray of, my favorite banana-nut, muffins!  And the candle for me was priceless, Sarah totally won with it.  So the gang winds down with a couple more brews.  Now, it's only 2300 or so, and obviously the party needs to continue.  So I convince those still willing to head back to Clarendon and rock some karaoke at Sobe.  It was very, very weird seeing Lauren sing, sans costume, wig, and big glasses, but somehow she did alright anyways.

As Sobe closes down we all repair to our homes.  The next morning I'm supposed to catch the Amtrak home, so I repair over to Union Station through the albeit, honest blizzard that's going on.  Standing outside of Union Station having a smoke I look across the park, to where the state flags should be flying, and I can't see a single one.  Whiteout!  It was lovely.  My 1115 train didn't leave until at earliest 1400, cause I left the station when I realized I wouldn't be home in time for a pickup at 1500.  <3 Amtrak and refundable tickets.  But needing to stay through the snowpocalypse wasn't the end of the world, in fact, it was kinda awesome.  Sunday, I went up to Clarendon and rocked a flash-mob snowball fight.  Followed by a round, then Aubri let me in on snow-happenings on the mall.  And of course, one for adventure, I get my gear and rock over to the mall; where by the time I get there, there is a snow-capital building.  And behind it, the actual capital, where those fucking idiots were getting the requisite 60 votes....assholes.

So obviously, at the mall, snow everywhere, what idea do I come up with?  Snow Dives of course!  A surrogate northerner, loves a running start, spin in midair, and land on your back.  Little to say, there was snow where snow shouldn't be, and wetness ensues.  Sadly, at this point, I wish I remembered my flasks which I had in the freezer...ugh.  Well, we split from the mall and rock up to Rocket Bar, good call.  The gang has a couple drinks, I walk across the street and pick Aubri and I up some McD's.  About this point is which, Tina (different one) is freaking about how to get back from Reagan, since metro service is suspended above ground.  Now it's a good point I forgot the flasks.  I volunteer to do my one random-act-of-kindness and go pick her sick, horse, joyed self from the aeroport.  I metro back to Arlington, get a bottle of whiskey, and wine, and snag her out of the cold.  Poor girl, learned she loves DC, and got slightly overly emotional about it, though I don't blame her DC is awesome with the people we know.

So there, thus ends the awesome weekend!  Oh I also won an ebay auction for a Canon 85mm f/1.8.  I'm so excited to be taking pictures with it!

Birthday Celebrations

It's that time again, the biological clock makes another tick.  25.  Jesus, felt like just the other day I was psyched about going to a bar to drink /legally/ for the first time.  And now, it's commonplace.  I guess I'm going to need to call the insurance company to try and get a better quote, wouldn't that be awesome, the kid with a DUI able to pay even less for insurance...fuck yeah.

In totally different other news, I've been debating how to spend my Christmas bonus this year.  I've narrowed it down to 2 possibilities.  One, buy a nice new lens for my SLR.  It would allow me to start taking much better pictures of shows I go to, and hopefully land myself more photo jobs giving pictures to music bloggers about town.  Tina said she'd credit some of my work in her latest review, that is, if she ever posts that review *glare*.

Or option 2, which is my favorite, take a week and rock out in Dublin!  That's right, BP by the pearly...I mean St. James Gate.  It's been 6 years since I was last in Ireland, and that time I stuck to the south-west of the country, in County Kerry, and County Cork.  Granted, lovely areas of the country, with fantastic golfing.  However, I'd love to see the big city.  My only fear is that I'm going to renege on the return ticket, and start renting a flat there.  I do remember how much more delicious Guinness tasted over there (insert comment about FUCK YOU FDA).  So we'll find out which I do.