about the party.

Between work and NSI and the surprise party and the other projects and work crap, I've been a bit occupied. and those occasions when I have had some sitdown time I've pretty much been swearing off the computer.

However I'm back at NSI right now, killing some time between training sessions and thought I would go back like the old days and f*ck off a little. With a ridiculously overpriced coffee in hand. Aaaah, this is life.

So let's see. I forget where we left off.

I was planning a surprise party for OHN (that's Old, Hot Neighbor now) and that happened this weekend. It was an awesome adventure, and I got to see some parts of Baltimore I had not yet experienced. Now I can say I've done that, and my parents are both pissed and worried and reiterating that they don't understand why I have to live in dangerous parts away from my family, which really just adds to the fun.

Part I of the party was a 10yr old style Roller Rink birthday boy-pa-looza. I got some recommendations which helpfully included things like "the name is skate something" and "it's near this hotel" so I asked the google for some help and the google took in my input and spat out some names. I called a couple of numbers, found one that sounded fun and plans were afoot- well at least they were once the dude on the phone worked through his issue with the fact that the birthday boy for whom I was planning the party was 40, but that only took a few minutes and some reassurances from yours truly. I had planned to go scout the locale- because that can be important in Baltimore-, but never got around to it because of the amount of work I was doing and the fact that HN and I are temporarily sort of sharing my car. And because I'm lazy. I could have done it, but didn't. So anyway, when the big day came, I packed him into the car to meet up with the family and off we went. We went south, we went west. Then we went more west. In Baltimore. Hot Neighbor began to wonder if his birthday surprise was going to be a cameo in an episode of The Wire (oh how I wish I had thought of that sooner!) I began to worry a little about how his family would react, but then I remembered how HN is always saying what a shame it is that so much of what we do is all white people and how he doesn't feel like we really ever get authentic Baltimore experience mixed in, and how he wishes for less homogeny in our activities, and I was comforted. and I reminded him of this. And in the glow of the blue flashing police lights, he agreed and looked very handsome. So in we went. The rink was awesome, but it was LOUD. so loud that a few of our group (the very young and very old) left immediately because they couldn't deal with the noise. It was that loud. Those of us who stayed had a blast for 3 hours, even though we were very conspicuously not from that area. It worked out, it made it easier to find people in our party when needed.

When that adjourned we headed back to his sister's house for Part II of the party which was just dinner and cake. That part went ok, but I confess I don't remember too much of it because I was exhausted from cooking and baking all day (I made 5 lbs of ethiopian beef, 3 lbs of ethiopian lentils and the cake) so I mostly sat in the corner watching my handiwork execute and mumbling about how I'm always the hostess.

Sunday was basically a giant nap for me, punctuated with breaks of eating. HN took the dog out to run and she sliced her foot open so there was a little surgery, but no pictures yet. I'm due to check the wound today, I'll try to report back on that.

Otherwise I have nothing to report. Some work shit,but nothing terribly interesting. I'll try to be back later with something topical and some pictures. I'd consider an artist's rendition of the skating, but it would likely be way un-PC. and not in the cool way.