It occurred to me, while driving, as all the most important and inane things occur to me then, that I've been home roughly eighteen months now.
I wasn't the first of our brave band of Jakarta sisters to go. La Rus went first. She make the jump back to California. I've been down to visit and reminisce. She's one of the few I still talk and text with on a regular basis. Last week she was awed that her daughter is starting eighth grade. I just saw her last year and I swear she wasn't nearly that old then. Guess that means age is probably sneaking up on us too.
I was the next to go, last February, landing more permanently in Seattle in March. Since then I started a new career and worked very successfully in it. I've traveled both for work and fun. I'm in a relationship (gasp!).
I'm not even close to the one with the most news. The kiwi got engaged several months ago. She is posting out save the dates for her wedding in Bali next year. What a great excuse to go back and help her kick off married life right.
There is yet another member of the tribe with even more news. UK, my former sushi companion and life line for many a night in JKT, has not only been engaged, and been married, but she's become an incubator. I'm secretly hoping for baby chicks but I doubt I'll get my wish. She's flown the coop and headed back to England while her hubby sails the seven seas.
That's a year and a half for ya. Who'd have thunk we'd all come so far in such a sort time? And yet, it feels as though my days in Jakarta were ages ago.
In a mere year and a half, I've settled in to coupledom. We prefer to be home, cooking, relaxing. Gone are the clubbing days of staying out until 7am in the most random places in Jakarta. Instead of going to the pubs and clubs, I host beer and cocktail "parties" at my house, party being best described as a simple gathering of people. We enjoy a beerfest on occasion, a backpacking trip, a recent pursuit of vegetable gardening and such. Though I'd hoped for this, even yearned for it, I'd also kibitzed friends who had become "boring" in the coupledom. Who never came out any more. Now, the kidding has come full circle. 25 and I went to a birthday party for his friend. It was in Seattle. She is several years younger than me so the gathering was in Capitol Hill, in a series of bars and clubs. 25 has never been a wild partier and drinker in the time I've known him. After a couple hours of awkward small talk with people we didn't know, and some quality time with his friend and her bf, we hastily make our retreat. We still didn't get home until 1am and we were both knackered. The friend's bf said he knew we'd be the first to go, that it wouldn't be our scene.
I'm happy to admit, both to him and here, that he was right.
Showing posts with label party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label party. Show all posts
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Friday, January 04, 2013
Holiday Recap
I've just realized that I didn't share any of my holiday goings-on.
I went down to California to visit my mom in November for Thanksgiving so my sister and her partner went south for Christmas. That meant that I was without biological relatives nearby. Instead of a family Christmas that looked neither exactly like an animated special or National Lampoon Chrismas:
I had two first dates. One was a nice guy but neither of us wants a relationship with the other. Strangely enough I think he'll be a good friend. The second I'm still sorting out. I saw him twice more over Christmas break. I'm not sure where it's going, or if it's going, but I'll be sure to keep you up to date.
I went to a friend's German Christmas Eve. There were about eight of us, three Germans, including the host. The food was fantastic. It was relaxed and I beat Santa home.
Christmas was brunch by E. He's probably the best friend I've made this year. We met hiking. We have a ton in common and we "get" each other. He hosted brunch on Christmas day. There was bacon, which in and of itself would make for a great Christmas. He also made blueberry waffles and an oven omelet (I'd never had one but it was fantastic), there was coffee and egg nog martinis to boot. Gal and I were the only timely ones but we made the most of it before a few other scragglers made their way over.
I usually think of myself as good company for myself. I forgot how the holidays can kind of screw with your head and was very happy that Germaness and E both provided friendly diversions.
Not a lot between Christmas and New Year's. A snowshoe trip to be mentioned in a future blog.
I was invited to a Seahawks game on Sunday the 30th. They are the local NFL (American Football) team and were in contention for the playoffs. They won the game and locked a playoff spot. The games are fun but usually expensive. We were about two dozen rows from the top of the stadium, or as 25 said, "three rows from God". I wore long underwear under my long underwear. We met another couple, friends of 25's. Pregame drinks were essential and my choice of A Frenchman in Dublin (like an Irish coffee with Irish cream plus courvoisier) was perfect. While the Hawks didn't play as well as they had been, it was really fun. I suppose they could only keep averaging 50 points per game for so long.
New Year's Eve was a Monday so everyone had to work . . .except me because I'm still between contracts. 25 and I made plans. We met and taxied to a restaurant in Fremont called 9 Million in Unmarked Bills. The decor was fun and welcoming. Our waiter was on top of things and we never waited long. We were surprised to be there in time for happy hour which didn't end until 7. The food was stellar. We shared a selection of crostinis, caprese salad, both veal chorizo and buffalo sliders, and diablo prawns with ricotta pancakes. He had a mint julep. My winterized old-fashioned (with an apple cider reduction) was brilliant. I think we both agreed we would go back again in a heartbeat.
A two block walk down the street to Nectar where we had tickets to see Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme. It was sold out and a small venue anyway. The music was as good as expected and very upbeat,lively for the holiday. There was an intermission with belly dancers that were somewhere between Arabic style and Vegas showgirls. The DJ played lots of old school stuff that got the crowd up and going. I only had two drinks there an was sober the entire evening. No, I'm not complaining. I had a wonderful evening all around.
One sidenote - when we were in line to get in to Nectar, a homeless, Native American man was sitting on the sidewalk with a makeshift drum and cup. He said hello, so I said hello. He commented that he'd said hello to everyone in line and I was the only one who had taken a few minutes to talk to him. Inside Nectar, we were bumped in to by a guy who looked like an old Hell's Angel's biker. By the time he stumbled by we'd noticed him several times and he was fairly sloshed. That considered, he was very nice and seemed to be more lonely than anything. 25's protective shields went up as the Angel went in for a kiss to thank me for keeping an eye on his jacket (electricians union) later, but I think he was harmless. Both cases made me think that apparently there is something about me that makes me approachable. Also, why are so many people ignored and discarded by our society? It makes me double up my commitment to volunteer and help where I can, even if it's simply hello and eye contact.
I went down to California to visit my mom in November for Thanksgiving so my sister and her partner went south for Christmas. That meant that I was without biological relatives nearby. Instead of a family Christmas that looked neither exactly like an animated special or National Lampoon Chrismas:
I had two first dates. One was a nice guy but neither of us wants a relationship with the other. Strangely enough I think he'll be a good friend. The second I'm still sorting out. I saw him twice more over Christmas break. I'm not sure where it's going, or if it's going, but I'll be sure to keep you up to date.
I went to a friend's German Christmas Eve. There were about eight of us, three Germans, including the host. The food was fantastic. It was relaxed and I beat Santa home.
Christmas was brunch by E. He's probably the best friend I've made this year. We met hiking. We have a ton in common and we "get" each other. He hosted brunch on Christmas day. There was bacon, which in and of itself would make for a great Christmas. He also made blueberry waffles and an oven omelet (I'd never had one but it was fantastic), there was coffee and egg nog martinis to boot. Gal and I were the only timely ones but we made the most of it before a few other scragglers made their way over.
I usually think of myself as good company for myself. I forgot how the holidays can kind of screw with your head and was very happy that Germaness and E both provided friendly diversions.
Not a lot between Christmas and New Year's. A snowshoe trip to be mentioned in a future blog.
I was invited to a Seahawks game on Sunday the 30th. They are the local NFL (American Football) team and were in contention for the playoffs. They won the game and locked a playoff spot. The games are fun but usually expensive. We were about two dozen rows from the top of the stadium, or as 25 said, "three rows from God". I wore long underwear under my long underwear. We met another couple, friends of 25's. Pregame drinks were essential and my choice of A Frenchman in Dublin (like an Irish coffee with Irish cream plus courvoisier) was perfect. While the Hawks didn't play as well as they had been, it was really fun. I suppose they could only keep averaging 50 points per game for so long.
New Year's Eve was a Monday so everyone had to work . . .except me because I'm still between contracts. 25 and I made plans. We met and taxied to a restaurant in Fremont called 9 Million in Unmarked Bills. The decor was fun and welcoming. Our waiter was on top of things and we never waited long. We were surprised to be there in time for happy hour which didn't end until 7. The food was stellar. We shared a selection of crostinis, caprese salad, both veal chorizo and buffalo sliders, and diablo prawns with ricotta pancakes. He had a mint julep. My winterized old-fashioned (with an apple cider reduction) was brilliant. I think we both agreed we would go back again in a heartbeat.
A two block walk down the street to Nectar where we had tickets to see Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme. It was sold out and a small venue anyway. The music was as good as expected and very upbeat,lively for the holiday. There was an intermission with belly dancers that were somewhere between Arabic style and Vegas showgirls. The DJ played lots of old school stuff that got the crowd up and going. I only had two drinks there an was sober the entire evening. No, I'm not complaining. I had a wonderful evening all around.
One sidenote - when we were in line to get in to Nectar, a homeless, Native American man was sitting on the sidewalk with a makeshift drum and cup. He said hello, so I said hello. He commented that he'd said hello to everyone in line and I was the only one who had taken a few minutes to talk to him. Inside Nectar, we were bumped in to by a guy who looked like an old Hell's Angel's biker. By the time he stumbled by we'd noticed him several times and he was fairly sloshed. That considered, he was very nice and seemed to be more lonely than anything. 25's protective shields went up as the Angel went in for a kiss to thank me for keeping an eye on his jacket (electricians union) later, but I think he was harmless. Both cases made me think that apparently there is something about me that makes me approachable. Also, why are so many people ignored and discarded by our society? It makes me double up my commitment to volunteer and help where I can, even if it's simply hello and eye contact.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wedding
Not mine thankfully.
While I was out of the country, most of my friends and high school classmates got married and had kids. I, as you know, didn't. The best part about that first sentence? I was out of the country so I missed the bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, etc. Because God (if there is one, post on that coming. . . probably never) has a sense of humor, I've had two weddings, a bridal shower, a bachelorette party and a baby shower to attend in the last five months.
Hahahahah haha ha.
Amber is probably the only person I knew in junior high and high school that I'm still friends with. We reconnected between Spain and Indonesia and have been hanging out ever since. When I came back into town I was invited to be in her wedding. If I'd have known what I was in for, I may have given her a resounding NO.
The dress debacle started a couple months ago. Amber found cute dresses that were reasonably priced online. The three of us (her maid of honor sister, myself and another bridesmaid) all bought them. The problem came when the dressed showed up. The were made in China, very clearly by someone making less than minimum wage and it showed. The dresses looked very different and all required between 140 and 250 dollars worth of tailoring. In the end they looked pretty good but being long and fully lined, we roasted in them the day of the festivities.
The bridal shower was weeks ago. It was at a cute little wine and cheese bar. The food was for the most part, very good. The hang up there was that I didn't know most of the ladies there. Not inherently a hang up except that they are all married, some with kids and inevitably the conversations turn to husbands/children/ blah/blah and I glaze over. I brought a gift and left with chocolate. Not too shabby.
The bachelorette party was two weekends ago. I won't go into all the gory detail but suffice to say, it set the standard pretty high for any bachelorette parties to come. The six of us were a great group and had a fantastic time. I like that there were fewer of us which meant less time rounding everyone up and losing people. Smash wine bar was a good, if accidental, choice. Nectar was fun either because of or in spite of the 80's cover band. I'm still not sure which. Getting hit on never hurts the ego and I didn't even care that I never heard from the guys after. My only complaint really was paying the piper the next day for my total lack of sleep. NOTE TO SELF: do not plan anything the day after a bachelorette party!
The wedding was this past Sunday. Amber is a bit like myself in that she sees a situation that needs organizing and goes to it. I was emailed a timeline prior to the wedding that covered "day of" events. It spanned roughly fourteen hours. Meet up, hair, make up, change venue, get dressed, change venue, photos, change venue, wedding, reception, done. I did have a good time but man, was I beat by the end of it. I can't even imagine how the happy couple was feeling. The ceremony was brilliantly short, the food a good choice of snackables that didn't require awkwardly sitting at the singles table, the cake was fantastic and looked good to boot. Daniel and Lacey kept me occupied and endured my witty/snarky remarks all night. The groomsmen were all well supplied with their own flasks that helped all of us endure photos while we sweltered. All around, a long day but a good one.
I hope the Zieglers are enjoying Mexico and I wish them all the happiness one could ask for.
While I was out of the country, most of my friends and high school classmates got married and had kids. I, as you know, didn't. The best part about that first sentence? I was out of the country so I missed the bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, etc. Because God (if there is one, post on that coming. . . probably never) has a sense of humor, I've had two weddings, a bridal shower, a bachelorette party and a baby shower to attend in the last five months.
Hahahahah haha ha.
Amber is probably the only person I knew in junior high and high school that I'm still friends with. We reconnected between Spain and Indonesia and have been hanging out ever since. When I came back into town I was invited to be in her wedding. If I'd have known what I was in for, I may have given her a resounding NO.
The dress debacle started a couple months ago. Amber found cute dresses that were reasonably priced online. The three of us (her maid of honor sister, myself and another bridesmaid) all bought them. The problem came when the dressed showed up. The were made in China, very clearly by someone making less than minimum wage and it showed. The dresses looked very different and all required between 140 and 250 dollars worth of tailoring. In the end they looked pretty good but being long and fully lined, we roasted in them the day of the festivities.
The bridal shower was weeks ago. It was at a cute little wine and cheese bar. The food was for the most part, very good. The hang up there was that I didn't know most of the ladies there. Not inherently a hang up except that they are all married, some with kids and inevitably the conversations turn to husbands/children/ blah/blah and I glaze over. I brought a gift and left with chocolate. Not too shabby.
The bachelorette party was two weekends ago. I won't go into all the gory detail but suffice to say, it set the standard pretty high for any bachelorette parties to come. The six of us were a great group and had a fantastic time. I like that there were fewer of us which meant less time rounding everyone up and losing people. Smash wine bar was a good, if accidental, choice. Nectar was fun either because of or in spite of the 80's cover band. I'm still not sure which. Getting hit on never hurts the ego and I didn't even care that I never heard from the guys after. My only complaint really was paying the piper the next day for my total lack of sleep. NOTE TO SELF: do not plan anything the day after a bachelorette party!
The wedding was this past Sunday. Amber is a bit like myself in that she sees a situation that needs organizing and goes to it. I was emailed a timeline prior to the wedding that covered "day of" events. It spanned roughly fourteen hours. Meet up, hair, make up, change venue, get dressed, change venue, photos, change venue, wedding, reception, done. I did have a good time but man, was I beat by the end of it. I can't even imagine how the happy couple was feeling. The ceremony was brilliantly short, the food a good choice of snackables that didn't require awkwardly sitting at the singles table, the cake was fantastic and looked good to boot. Daniel and Lacey kept me occupied and endured my witty/snarky remarks all night. The groomsmen were all well supplied with their own flasks that helped all of us endure photos while we sweltered. All around, a long day but a good one.
I hope the Zieglers are enjoying Mexico and I wish them all the happiness one could ask for.
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