Still waiting on two people who had great pics...

The beach house was an absolute blast! We had 15 people running in and out of the house throughout the weekend. Friday night was a bit a smaller group of us (maybe 8 people), so it was a lot more intimate and nice. We drank, talked a lot of trash, and created some pretty funny memories (i.e., JAG wanting to put me into the dishwasher because for some reason he always found me next to it like it was my new BFF or something...yes, lots of scotch makes this little lady love her appliances, I guess).

Here is just a few photos from the beach house last weekend celebrating Grove and my combined 30th birthday. Two other people have great pics, but haven't had a chance to download them yet...slackers! Here are just a few.

~The Beach House Gang helping Grove and me celebrate our 30th birthdays~

~Why is it that the kitchen is ALWAYS the place of congregation?!?! Closer to the drinks, I suppose...~

~We should never be left alone to our own devices...Grove found a life jacket that he decided to wear for the rest of the night. Getting suited up thanks to Blondie and Grill~

~Late-night crew - I title this photo "Pajamas and Watermelon Shots"~

~2 Words: Ghetto Nachos~

~Blondie and me eating the infamous ghetto nachos at 3am~

There were pictures of the crew having turned the living room into a dance floor. Unfortunately, I didn't get any real good shots of that. I'm still awaiting those pictures. All in all, I wouldn't mind doing this all over again next year. Maybe not specifically for Grove and myself, but maybe for the entire March and April birthday troop seeing that there are at least 6 of us. Good times, good times...

Randomness

So as quickly as I say we're going to New Orleans for the Florida basketball game, I found out that we aren't going after all. Boo! Actually, just a half-boo seeing as we'll still get to do something pretty exciting here in H-Town. Baby decided the schedule would be too hard for us to go to the Big Easy Friday right after work, and then get back in time and be up for celebrating Grove's 30th birthday/St. Patty's on Saturday night. Basically, we'd be dead by Sunday and not nearly recovered to be resurrected for work by Monday. Yes, we're getting old. Whatever happened to partying until we dropped...and that we never actually "dropped" because we were young and full of crazy energy?!?! Alas, my almost 30-year-old arse isn't the partying diva I used to be :( Maybe I can just be a diva without the partying...hehehe.

I'm taking tomorrow off to spend time with my dad during the day while he's in from Iraq. Although, the evening is strictly for Grove. Grove has decided on no game plan for his birthday and just seeing where the evening takes us. He's low-key, so it should be easy. We'll probably celebrate his birthday tomorrow night and carry it on through St. Pat's. Friday evening's format will be something like this:

• happy hour drinks,
• dinner,
• after dinner drinks,
• full force drinking at a bar,
• full force drinking at bar #2,
• after hours drinking at the house,
• at some point pass out,
• wake up the next morning looking around thinking "thank God, I'm in bed...I hope Baby was the one who put me here because I'm fully undressed from the waist down. Did we fool around?"

Ok, maybe not that bad, but pretty damn close, I'm sure. My saving grace is that I gave up liquor for lent, so I won't be taking any shots or drinking my usual scotch and water... I may actually stay sober if I drink beer all night. If anyone wants to join us, please give me a call or shoot me an email.

Unfortunately, I have to look vibrant and alive for my sister's impromptu baby shower in the early afternoon Saturday - lots of ibuprofen, water, and makeup. Since my dad has to leave again at the end of the month and he and my mom are heading to the Philippines on Monday through right before he leaves, Saturday was the only time we could throw the shower for family and close family friends to all be together while my dad was on his R&R. He won't be back for another R&R until after my nephew is born...so sad. So, yes, I will be playing good daughter/sister/aunt. Later on that evening, however, will be dedicated to all things green if I make it for round two. Which reminds me that I need to find something green to wear!

~*~

So again, I have a jam-packed weekend. Ugh! I actually have stuff to do every weekend for the next 4 weekends. Man, I seriously need to schedule a weekend of alone time soon or I will snap. Who am I kidding? I'm sure that will get bombarded with last-minute things to do as well. I shouldn't complain though. I'm the poster child for that saying, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop" or something to that effect. If I wasn't busy, I'd probably be shopping with money I don't have or drinking away my rent. Basically, I see all these activities as diversions from my deviant behavior. Why can't I just be satisfied with sitting at home and crocheting or widdling toys out of wood?

~*~

Any good plans for you guys?

Rain or Shine...Hell or High Water!

Well, maybe not "high water". So, it's official. Grove and I put the deposit down on the Galveston Beach House today. We will be exiting our youthful 20's and entering our roaring 30's with all of our friends, some sand, and the ocean. Any and all who read this blog, please hold the weekend of March 30th-April 1st! More details will follow.

Not only will we be celebrating Grove's 30th birthday on March 18th and mine on April 25th. We have a slew of other birthdays as well. It appears that Curly-Hair Wonder, Blondie, Legalese, and Noodle all fall between our dates. So even though Grove and I are the guests of honor, we have several birthdays to celebrate.

I'd also like to consider this a celebration of congrats to Midtowner for pulling off what will be a successful Starlight Gala which is scheduled the weekend before on March 24th! I'm sure she'll need a quick little getaway after co-chairing that event from start to finish.

Busy as usual

HOWEVER... I wouldn't have it any other way, I suppose. Actually, I think my body would go into shock should I be sedate for more than a 3 hour period...ha! People make fun of how I need a hundred things to do or my head would explode.

This week (and it's only halfway over) has already been exhausting. I have not only been trying to recover from moving this weekend - unpacking boxes, reorganizing, utilizing my creativity for storing things, cleaning my old place - but I also have had to work like a slave at work as well as get myself prepared for some social functions.

Today I have a happy hour with the Young Professionals in Energy. Although it seems like an easy gig to show up and toss a few tasty beverages back, I actually kind of "work" at these events. I am (1) the unofficial photographer for YPE - every picture on the site for Houston was more than likely courtesy of my pure Asian-ness of always carrying a camera, (2) I have to put on the "mix and mingle" face seeing as I've gotten to know quite a bit of the members and you never know if one day one of these "young guns" of the industry might come in handy if I decide to see what other employment opportunities may be out there for me, and (3) throwing a few drinks back during the week is getting tougher and tougher as I edge near the big 3-0.

In addition to today's happy hour, I have a Silent Art Auction at the Gremillion & Co. art gallery to go to tomorrow after work for the American Cancer Society Starlight Gala. Diana Banana and Single Girl, you should stop by for some free margaritas, wine, and Mexican food. You don't have to buy any art or anything, but you can come out and support a good cause just by being there. I think most people go for the socializing and the free food and drinks...haha! We got Pico's Mex-Mex restaurant, Partida Tequilla, and Barefoot Wines to donate for the event...YUM! I meant to invite you guys sooner, but kept forgetting to mention it. I think I've emailed everyone else about it though...I hope. I'll be there at 4pm through most of the event getting my fill of 'ritas ;) The artists that are being featured are all local Houston artists as well. This would be a perfect way for me to meet up with you guys and spend NOTHING...free is always a plus!

Also, I've been trying to organize Grove and my 30th birthday celebration. I think we've settled on renting a beach house in Galveston and having anyone and everyone join us. Big P-A-R-T-Y! I'll forward more details as they get confirmed.

Ok, I think I've rambled enough. I need to get back to this pile of work that I've been trying to pretend isn't here. Signing off...