Me & Pea
This holiday week has been non-stop since Tuesday night. Carmen and Alex flew in from Philly and Paulie and I picked them up. We picked up Kiki and went straight to Q for their annual Crab Feed. I love this event because it is a chance to hang out with people I don't see very often and shovel mass amounts of crab down our gullets. Paulie was the last man standing at the crab line, go figure.
On Wednesday Carmen pounced on me in bed at the ungodly hour of 8 something and refused to let me be cranky with her since it was her birthday. Damn her. I can hardly believe Pea turned 32. The first bday I spent with her was her 21st. I baked her a purple heart-shaped cake and she cried because it was the first time a friend had ever done that for her. I told her to toughen up cause the cake represented bravery damn-it.
We took her to Framer Brown's for her birthday dinner; a rocking little soul food place in a funky neighborhood. After dinner we shot an awkward game of pool before heading home. My sister kicked some ass.
Thursday being Thanksgiving everyone had to hustle to different houses to visit family before we all settled at Alicia's house for the actual meal. My sister hosted 18 of us, a motley crew at best, in her home in Marin. My mom, sister, her kids, my brother, his gf, Carmen, Alex, Paulie, Russell, his brother Daniel, Justin and me all cooking, eating, drinking, laughing, smoking, and generally behaving badly for a typical holiday meal together. It was awesome. We hung out at Alicia's until about 9 and then headed to Russell's place for some serious Guitar Hero action. Laugh if you must, I did at first, but this game ROCKS! My only regret is that I suck a whole lot, but that never stopped me. Before I knew what was happening it was two in the morning and my hand had a cramp in it that haunted me until morning.
Friday morning was spent being slugs. Oh the joy. Pea and I needed to do a little shopping (I had to buy a heavy blanket for my guests as they claim my house is an icebox and hadn't stopped complaining for three days) so we headed to Target to see Mary. Mare is an executive at Target so we used her as a personal shopper so we could spend some time with her. I just don't get to see that girl often enough, and now that she has purchased a house in Sacramento, I am afraid it will be even less. Sigh.
We made plans to have a bunch of people at my house Friday night. I think we all needed a little down-time, sans hair and make-up, just to relax. Lara, Mary, Debbie, Jake, (who brought the fix'ens for Mojito's, bless his soul), Russell, Daniel, Paulie, Carmen and I all sat around my living room having drinks and laughing. Cause that is what we do, we drink and laugh. No, really - THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
My sister came over on Saturday morning to make us stuffing omelets. Granted, I don't eat eggs, or stuffing for that matter, but the thought was nice. Around two we headed to Carmen's aunt's house for a double bday celebration with her family. A nice whacky bunch that I always enjoy hanging out with. We read a play her Gram had written; a nicely charged political piece where I not only played Inga's mother (Inga being Carmen's character) but a second role that stabs Inga to death. Funny they picked me for both of those roles.
We stayed at the party until about 9 then I headed home (I was beaten up by then) and everyone else went to play more Guitar Hero. I hear I missed out.
Tonight is the last celebration. A group of us are driving up to French Laundry for another double-bday (this time Mikey and Carmen) for a four hour, nine-course meal. Ummm, I think come Monday I may be done eating for the year. Photos and gossip to follow.
