It's been 9 days since I updated, which is a record for me in the past two years. Maybe I should write smaller entries a few times a week instead of letting it pile up on me and then become this huge and daunting task. I've been pretty busy trying to finish up a huge freelance job and all my spare time has been spent... um... shit, I'm not sure. But it's been spent. And I am spent.
Crazy ass weekend. I took 99 pictures. Actually, I took a buttload more than that, but I had to delete a few due to pending lawsuits. St. Patrick's Day in Chicago is b-a-n-a-n-a-s. Our whole South Side is made up of thugs and Irish men and thuggish Irish men. So people in this city start celebrating 8 days beforehand. And this past weekend was the fruit of that labor of love. (Not to be confused with Flavor of Love. Go on, Hoopz!)
So, besides the crazy weekend, all has been quiet on the western front. Working out, playing with puppy, doing dinners with friends, making plans for out-of-town excursions, etc. This past Friday, I got extremely distressing news about someone that I love very deeply. I was a wreck all day, but after I texted with him that night and talked to him the next day, I felt much better. I am trying to make plans to fly to LA to spend time with him very soon. It must be awesome to be one of those people who can book a plane ticket without batting an eyelash. Unfortunately, I am somewhat of a starving artist and I do not have that luxury.
Since I don't want this to take all day, let's get on to the weekend review...
Friday night, Dra had the awesome idea of attending Shedd Aquarium's Spring Break. It was AWESOME. I am always complaining that we do the same old thing all the time, so this was a breath of fresh air. It still involved drinking and dancing, but this time, there was gourmet food and shark tanks involved. It's pretty sweet to take a sip of your lemon drop martini and see a sting ray fly right by your head. So for as long as I live in Chicago, I will be attending this fete.
Oh Effen! I effen love it.
Dra's sissy can really back that thang up!
It was so odd to see people breaking it down the the front hall of the Shedd Aquarium. The DJ ruled! How do you get that gig anyway?
Most poorly executed fake kiss I have ever seen. Dig Dra's sisters face. That's awesome.
Mad love all around.
The view from the smoking deck of the Shedd is amazing. I took a bunch of landscape pics, but they all turned out shitty. For you non-Chicagoans... the Sears Tower has a light at the top that they change for every holiday. And besides Boston, I don't think anywhere in the US parties as hard for St. Pat's then we do!
I am not sure how I accomplished this shot, but it's pretty effen cool.
At 11:30, we boarded a trolley to take us to CroBar. Dra's bendiness was a rampant theme throughout the weekend.
There are so many things that are funny/wrong with this picture... where shall I begin? Dra's extreme lack of interest in a woman on top of her? So much so that she felt the need to phone someone else mid-dry hump? The boredom in T's face? The fact that T is mounting her in the front of a trolley? Those are all good jumping off points.
CroBar was packed and my feet were killing me. Once again, I was entranced by this dancer. She is a goddess. Her moves are mesmerizing. She really has me questioning my sexuality.
So after an hour of standing and staring at people on Ecstasy... we decided to head off to Spy Bar, our late-nite go-to spot. Never a disappointment. I got to sit and got drinks bought for me and it was dark. Couldn't ask for more.
Holy vacant stare, Batman!
We're all looking pretty alert for 3am!
The next morning, peeled myself out of bed at 12:30 to discover the GLORIOUS day outdoors. I kicked myself for sleeping in and immediately commenced to readying myself for what was sure to be an action-packed day. I called Cocktail, who was lit up like a sparkler at this point in the day. He'd been drinking since 8am and invited us over to the party that contributed to his state. H, who was totally comatose, got up off the couch in 2.3 seconds when I informed her we had a party to attend.
Showers be damned, we brushed our smoky hair and headed into the bright sunshine. I donned my trusty black Old Navy flip flops, who haven't seen the light of day since late September. It weird walking in flip flops again after a long period. I kept tripping.
We headed over the where I thought the party was, only to find out it was somewhere else, but it didn't matter anyway because they were out of beer. So we walked another block to Cocktail's place and took up residence on his couch in front of the open window. I enjoyed the warm breezes and a Belvedere and Red Bull. The next 10 hours can only be described as Frat-tastic. Lots of hijinks involving passed out people, watching the 40 Year Old Virgin AGAIN (the extras kick ass!) and mass burrito consumption. Most of the pictures I took will never see the light of day, but be warned I have them if ever I should need to blackmail anyone.
H incurs the wrath of the extremely intoxicated.
I am not disclosing the identity of this individual. Suffice it to say, these handy work was done with Sharpies provided by his roommate. Hos before bros!
Fulk wanted me to decorate a t-shirt for him to wear to the bars that night. I think he enjoyed this part a wee bit too much.
Crafty!
H and I slept there for a bit then made our escape once the rhinoceros came crashing through the doors and made guttural sounds into my hair. We went straight to bed so we'd be ready for the climax of the weekend...
THE SOUTHSIDE IRISH PARADE!
We hitched a ride from P straight into the fray. H and P's old roommate Wrath was having a party at his place and we spent the majority of our day there.
A group of pre-teens approached the party, all hopped up on bead trading. Dra would not giver hers up without a fight. I handed them off right away and got to see the tots squeal like little piggies.
Hey kids! I'll see you again when you mug me in 10 years!
How could you not get a picture with this guy? How could this guy NOT own a leprechaun outfit? He is the most leprechaun-looking motherfucker I have ever seen. I followed him around for an hour after this, trying to steal his pot of gold.
I wish I was this bendy.
Guaranteed to be Dra's new MySpace profile picture.
There is nothing sexier than a man in a kilt. Right, Judd?
The girls. Try not to puke, Laura.
This kid is 18. He kept coming around us all day and was largely ignored until I noticed his hat. Two seconds later, this picture was taken.
When it got dark, we decided to wander the streets and alleys of the neighborhood, but eventually we made our way back to Wrath's apartment to drain the rest of one of the 5 kegs that was left.
This girl cracked me up. She was such a freeakin tomboy. And boy, did she love her Skol.
Wrath had a rough day. They keep it reeeeal durty on the South Side!
My crush of the day. I need to go to the South Side more often!
He's just a little guy!
Holy God, I am so sick of this face. I need to practice a new one in the mirror.
It was a super long day. It was a super fun day. And we've only just begun. Friday, pretty much everyone I hang out with Chicago is meeting up to hit some pubs. The girls and me are meeting up right after work to go to Fado which is very close to where I work. After the guys lose their asses in their NCAA pool, they'll be meeting up as well and merriment will be had by all.
I officially have Spring Feva. Last summer somewhat blew. But not this summer, by god. I am going to go camping, go to the beach, go on boats, go to many concerts, go on a few road trips, go to Mexico and make every sun-soaked minute count. It is the last summer of my 20s, damn it. It's gonna be amazing. I ain't settling for anything less.