"You're a Party"

So my new years eve plans (like most people's) only came together about a week before the big day. How and with who I spent my time was most unexpected because for years, I've kinda hung with the usual suspects.

At the big extended family blow-out (which Ace hosted), I was invited by my cousins to the family cabin up on Clear Lake. Every year, we say we're going to try to get together throughout the year, but it never actually comes together. (These are people that I love like family, but would like to see more often like friends...if that makes sense.) Anyway, they offered, and I jumped on it.

Following a lovely and relaxing Christmas, a stay with the Mini Mingle (who has anything but a mini meow), a visit with Manoa, and two nights of partying with Liddy that need to stay off the record, and probably will since our memories are a bit fuzzy....I headed up to the cabin with my friend Magellan leading the way. (GPS will only make me more pathetic in terms of knowing where I am, or how I got there. "Did you go through the blah, blah blah grade?" "Um..." But it will definitely insure I will get there. And that my friends--priceless. Worth $400? No. But priceless. And lovely to borrow.)

The cabin was a childhood favorite simply because it had a pool, pool table and ping pong. This was the triad of all good things to this kid. Well, I didn't even appreciate it at the time, but there is also a kick-ass bar. (Did the heavens part and angels sing for you when you read that? No? Well, then you haven't seen it!)

Got up there around 4 on the 30th, and happy hour started shortly thereafter.And went til 2 or 3. (Turned out it wasn't just the fam, there was another group coming. It was the equivalent in their family to Obus and the Kid to ours. So in all there were 13 people there.) In the course of the evening, I taught a whole new group how to play liar's dice (and talk some shit), sang the greek alphabet song, screamed several times (which they hadn't been privy to before...I'm horrible at keeping my own secrets), modeled my white nightgown for everyone...and drank like a fish. At some point I placed a call to Liddy, where I repeated "Lemme just tell you..." about a dozen times. I recall just being thrilled to death with everything, so I assume that's where I was going with that statement. But we'll never know because I didn't finish it.

The next day was understandably slow, and consisted of steeling myself for that night's adventure. As luck would have it, we ended up at the bar again, and that's when Leslie brought out the best game! (Which it is my mission to find--no luck on-line!) It is a pair of black glasses with a fork like thing attached to the bridge. What you are trying to do is stack up mini champagne glasses in a pyramid as quickly as possible. Seem easy? Initially, no, but we all got the hang of it fast, had some races, then decided to fill them with water (sparkling, by the way, only the good stuff). I had the bright idea to stack those and if you spilled, you would do a shot for every glass you spilled. And what are we shooting? Tequila! Someone up there loves me or hates me...I'm not sure which. So others go, and at the most, they spill one. Then it's my turn, and my tongue is flicking all over the place. (And this charming Tom to my Jerry--aka equally as competitive--has a new fancy camera and is taking pictures from about a foot away. It was bad enough from a boat while skiing. *sigh* Another reason I won't be running for public office. So much damn bad press). So as I am literally putting up the second to last glass--flawlessly!!--Amy says something to the effect that I'm going to be the first to do it perfect. Wanna guess what happened? They all came tumbling down. And no one felt sorry for me, they were scrambling to decide how many shots I had in store...zoinks. And they made me do every single one. Family never lets you forget.

Later we played another game where we filled the glasses with champagne, balanced them on the fork, and tried to flip the booze into our mouths. The slow and steady head tilt seemed to leave a fair amount on the floor, so I decided to go hard and fast. (Again at close camera range) And ended up with champagne in my eyes. Which burns, lemme tell ya! Laugh they thought they'd die. I saw one of these pictures--it was horrendous. I'd like to see Liddy or DAB take a good picture in that situation. Impossible!

The night ended with me talking with Amy til the wee hours (fellow teacher of yoots), so we even got a little deep. Which apparently, she didn't remember the next day. She did comment several times that I can really hold my liquour. (She was loopy after 3 lemon drops...child's play!) I reminded her that I was in a so-whore-ity, and about 8 inches taller, so I hope that explains it. Plus I party with Jameson, and that alone will make you world class.

Anyway, the next day we all slept in, had a fantastic brunch, packed up our goods and left. During my lengthy yet pleasantly stress-free drive, I kept reflecting on how thrilled I was with everything. It was just super. So I called back up there to express this sentiment, and one of my cousins said I was welcome anytime..."you're a party". Love that!!