How to describe the past week? I’ll spell it out: P-A-R-T-Y-!!!!. Not one big party, really, but we had a series of impromptu parties and two scheduled parties (Mandy’s surprise birthday party, and Hartman and Megan’s wedding reception) at the house.
Monday. Broke out the week with a bout of pilates before my closing shift with Commodore Harvey. When we got home I found a little present from Mandy in the oriental box beside my bed, and Amos and Isaac and I enjoyed it in the basement. It’s the little things, you know? This was Mandy’s 23rd birthday, and we—me, Amanda, Mandy, and Nick—celebrated it with an impromptu and relaxed party in Amanda’s decked-out room. “It’s so feminine I’m getting wet just being in here.” Mandy’s way of saying “I like how you decorated this room.”
Tuesday. Decent day at work, made $23 in tips plus a random Rock Bottom Brewery gift card. Ran some errands after work (i.e. picked up two packs of Killian’s) and around 5:30 people started showing up for Mandy’s surprise birthday party. She flipped her shit when we surprised her, went into micro-spasms and sprawled against the wall like a terrified tree frog. The evening was spent hanging out with all sorts of great people, close friends coming together to celebrate. The night closed off with a Cuban cigar on the front porch. Another storm came through. Lightning in the clouds. People left their houses to watch as the wind tore the leaves from the trees. No rain came, though. How strange?
Wednesday. Beautiful day in the 70’s. Mandy and I made an impromptu trip to Northside to visit her friend from Findley Market. I forget her name, but she was pretty awesome. Black culture to the max, brilliant and witty, starting her own business and struggling to get through life. We sat on her patio and talked about farming, which has apparently been a big deal as of late. Isaac himself is trying to purchase some land and grow some orchards or at least have a self-sufficient garden. Another night spent on the front porch smoking backwoods cigars and watching the sunset turn the clouds into orange ribbons cutting across the horizon and pushing through the trees.
Thursday. After work I ran up to Dayton to see Carly a bit. Went into Spring Valley where Faith was working her last shift before moving to Oregon, where she’ll be managing a different store in Salem. It was good to get to say bye. Carly and I went to Grant Park and walked the trails and played in the shallow drought-smoldered pools. A crayfish tried to attack Carly’s feet. We parted ways after another visit to Spring Valley, and I went by the house to see Mom, Dad, and Sky. Grandma’s in town there, too, so I got to see her. I enjoyed the drive back to Cincinnati and spent the evening hanging out with Brandy, Amos, Ams and Mandy.
Friday. Eggs and toast for breakfast after my early-morning workout. I closed 600 with Amos, and then Rob and I had training. I took an iced soy mocha with me to Fountain Square and did some writing. Returning home, I found Blake and Gambill shirtless. We played guitar—“Write a serenade for Brandy!” Blake exclaimed, so I did—and then there was an impromptu party around the hookah. Amos, Andy, Nick, his pale Jared, Mandy, Ams, Blake and me. It was pretty great. I crawled through a bedroom window—sneaky cats!—and went for an equally-impromptu drive into Indiana, delving into foreign yet tempting optimistic hopes and resilient dreams.
Saturday. I woke up to find Josh and Isaac passed out on the sofas. I did some shopping in Clifton, and cleaned my room and did some laundry. We had a not-so-impromptu-but-equally-satisfying party (err, reception) for Hartman and Megan’s wedding. That’s when things got crazy, I mean outta control. Not in a bad way, just in a “hey” way. Lots of great—albeit unhealthy—food (it’s a wedding, though), and there was a keg and people were getting trashed. The first puker came early, and only after a beer, one shot, and a cigar. I left around 10:00 to go on a drive, this time ending up at Mount Adams, the hilltop swarming with partygoers. Things at the house had calmed down by the time I got back, and the stragglers all hung out in the basement till 4 in the morning when the rains came, and I was the last person asleep because I spent another forty minutes on the front porch smoking my pipe and watching the rains.
Sunday. Started the morning off right: a trip to The Anchor where I smoked my pipe and continued slowly tumbling through the 2nd draft of “re:framing repentance”. Breakfast: a cup of coffee, runny eggs, and buttered toast. At 1:30 I met Mom at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets off 75 for a much-needed eye appointment. I came out of it with new glasses and new contacts on the way. Amanda joined us, and we—Mom, Dad, Grandma, Ams and I—had lunch/dinner at IHOP. This time: a spinach-and-mushroom omelet with three buttermilk pancakes. Much laughter around the table. When I got back to the house, I spent the evening hanging out with Rob and Brandy. Mandy went over to Nick’s with Ams and she came home drunk and then passed out. It took me back to the “good ol’ days” of 2009 (which really weren’t that great) when we used to drink several nights a week and then pass out.
Is it safe to say that I'm tired of partying? Yes.
Is it safe to say that I'm looking forward to partying this Saturday? Yes.
Because Tyler will be here. And you never know what to expect with him.
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