mastering the 20 hour day

The World Cup games have been screwing with my mental stability in more ways than one. Pubs are opening at far too early an hour, friends are awake and texting before I've completed my mandatory number of REM cycles, and on the days I do wake up to go watch a game, my entire day is turned sideways because of my random sleeping/drinking habits. [[I won't even go into how random it is that so many people are interested in soccer all of a sudden. Half these people wouldn't have know who Landon Donovan was a month ago, and now they pray to him. Thats a whole different post.]]
After living through a full day (6:30am-2:00am) of pubs, bars, beers, downtown, uptown, boats, bikinis, and cab rides, I have compiled some knowledge for those attempting to do the same. These days won't be every day. In fact, they may only happen once a year. (For your general health, I suggest that they only happen once a year.) But when they do, lets all learn from the mistakes I made on Tuesday.
1. Do have breakfast. Bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes-- all fantastic ideas. Especially if you plan to keep the dream alive all day.
2. Do start early. Generally, the earlier you start drinking, the earlier you'll fall asleep. In this case, sleep is sweet. Bloody Mary first thing in the AM will kick start your day so you aren't wasting time. (And the serving of veggies doesn't hurt one bit.)
3. NAP. If you are near a couch, chair, bed, park bench before 11am, for goodness sakes, take a nap. There is no shame at all in giving in to 30 minutes of renewal. You'll thank me around 6pm.
4. If you aren't asleep, keep moving. Walk as much as possible. Don't get stuck at one bar. The longer you stay in one place, the worse your chances are of making the day.
5. Say Yes to offers that involve leaving the drinking area. Someone wants to take a trip to the mall? Go with them. Up for a boat ride? Count yourself in. You'll be back to drinking soon enough, but keep yourself moving and the endorphins flowing.
6. Water. Drink it.
7. And don't forget food. Eating is still important. Beer may have calories, but it is not food.
8. Pick your friends wisely: Drunk friends will make your night shorter, sober friends will make you feel drunk. Get someone from the in between.
9. Don't get stuck alone-- especially after 3pm. Always be with a friend, and don't be afraid to switch friends every so often.
10. Do all of this downtown so that you can hop in a cab and be somewhere new and more exciting whenever you feel a crash coming along. You've made it this far, you might as well power through the night.
11a. If its after 6pm, going to sleep will end your night. Do not try to nap. Have a big cup of cold water and get back to socializing.
11b. If you have to work the next morning, go to sleep at 6pm. Your body NEEDS those extra hours to clean up the mess you've made. (Believe me, you've made a really big mess for just 12 hours.)

I wish I'd had this information earlier. Hopefully it gets to you before World Cup games try to throw off your drinking stamina. The world is depending on you to wake up for those 7am games.
I really am drinking for the greater good.
L

of age

Am I old? That stings. But tonight I was content with soda water on the rocks... so... I think I'm getting there. Lately hangovers  have been abundant, and blackout moments have been so much easier to come by. One beer pushes me to the point of sending text messages I'm likely to regret by sunrise. And a night is rarely just one beer, so imagine being the poor guy on my speed dial. (He tolerates it well. Thank you.)

My question for the night is this: when did 24 become so very very old? Or is old not the word I'm looking for... Maybe... 24 just means I'm more easily-affected by alcohol. Or maybe I'm just more responsible? I suppose a year ago I might have had equally impressive hangovers, but I slept through them. Now, more and more often, I feel obligated to try to 1) have an amazing night and 2) show up for work ready to work.

Anyway- my new receipe for a good night: 1 beer, 1 red bull, 12 soda waters. You'll be moving in and out of crowds all night- on your way to and from the bathroom- so you'll feel like you're busy and involved in the atmosphere, without ever having to actually be involved. This is the lazy girl's guide to a night out.
Club soda in a cocktail glass. My future is clear and bubbly.
Cheers.
L

3 day rule

I remember learning from some late 90's chick flick that you have to wait 3 days after meeting someone to call them. I've never personally followed this rule. If I like you, I'm texting you 20 minutes after I get your number. If you like me, you're doing the same. I assumed my practice of this was because if it was meant to be, it'd be that way now or later. I've learned otherwise. 


My phone rang a few minutes ago. The number calling was saved in my phone. It was a boy's name. I do not know anyone by this name, but I know I saved this number. I checked my text messages, to see if I'd ever had a random text-conversation with this person. No. I checked my call logs to see if I'd ever talked to this person. No. I looked up the area code on his phone number to see if I could remember meeting anyone, ever, from that area. No. Thank goodness he left a message. 
"Hey L, haha, I like your voicemail*. It's P, incase you don't remember, I met you Monday at ****. I was just calling because I had a great time talking to you Monday and getting to know you, and I was wondering if you'd want to go to dinner tomorrow or Saturday....." 


*My voicemail prompt says "Leave a message". People have told me I sound pretty angry. I don't really like listening to voicemail, or leaving them. 


He then told me his schedule for the day, so I'd know when to call him back with an answer. 


THANK GOODNESS he left a message. The guy would have had no chance of a call back otherwise. And THANK GOODNESS he identified himself, when we met, and where we met. He may not have known it, but I was there doing a job interview. The person interviewing me was taking shots, and buying them for me. I remember meeting P, but I didn't commit enough of him to memory to have known his name. 


The 3 day rule makes some sense. You don't want to seem too eager, and I get that. You still seem interested enough when you call 3 days later. (You're still thinking about me 3 days later? That's almost more enticing than a call 20 minutes after the number exchange.) But boys, pay attention to what P has mastered: leave your name, when you met, and where you were when you met. Maybe even how you met. Be complete. Otherwise, you're just a creep who took my phone and entered your number, since I have no recollection of writing it down myself. 


Class dismissed. 
L 

back to summer

I've been too lazy to write for this blog, much less to go out and socialize so that I'd have something to write. Laziness be gone! It is 8pm and the sun is still out. Summer has arrived, and all my excuses have melted away.

Tomorrow night is the grand opening of a fairly new restaurant in midtown. It is also the grand opening of my summer social schedule. Expect things. Not big things, but things. As many and as much as I can hope to provide.

And, if you're around, come to the opening. Red Lotus at J and 28th. Start your summer, too.
L