Thursday, November 15, 2012
on growing up
Yesterday I turned 26.
26 seems so much older than 25. Or maybe every year just seems so much older than the last these days.
On my last day of 25 I thought a lot about all of the personal milestones that I hit during my 25th year: I represented a client in court, I graduated law school, I studied for and took the bar, I moved in with Dustin, I got a grown-up job, etc. It was a big year for me. And now there's 26. What does 26 have in store? Surely not as many exciting things. I mean, how could it?
Hopefully during my 26th year I will get better at that whole ethics thing and pass that part of the bar, I would also like to gain some job-security. Microsoft is great, but being a contractor always comes with some uncertainties. Maybe in my 26th year I will get a full time Microsoft job. And become ethical. Those are my goals (bam!). But I don't know what else I have to look forward to this year. Maybe that's alright, though. A year to rest and get my life started after school, school, school for the past 20something years. It has all been sort of exhausting and exciting and maybe now I get to step back and take a deep breath. Is this what being an adult feels like?
To celebrate my first, adult birthday I worked all day with the exception of a bubble tea and cake break thanks to my co-workers. After work I went to dinner with Dustin at the best little French restaurant where I ordered Brussels sprouts and mushrooms and a glass of red wine. What kind of a meal is that? I mean... when Dustin asked me what I wanted for dinner I told him Brussels Sprouts, how grown-up-gross is that? But guys, it was amazing. So good. Then, to top off the night I went to bed at about 8:30. So that's that. Apparently I jumped straight from 25 to 70.
Cheers to another year!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
welcoming the new year
Ohh you guys. This new year’s eve, let me tell you: it was a good one. I got dressed up in a sparkly dress, had dinner with Dustin then bar hopped around his neighborhood. We started across the street at Naked City Brewery where I had some apricot cider and Dustin had some beer. Then we headed across the street to the Pirate Bar where I got a ton of compliments on my dress (really, who doesn’t like to get complimented?) and had a wonderful time with my hot Dustin date. We had a drink there then decided to head upstairs to Dustin’s apartment right before midnight to have our own private champagne toast (that boy got us some Moet & Chandon champagne which was amazing), watch the space needle fireworks on TV and a few more random fireworks from his balcony, and of course have an awesome new year’s kiss – isn’t that the best part?
Dustin getting the champagne popped while I’m getting excited from all the alcohol and Party Rock Anthem and love and things:
After midnight, I insisted that we go across the street to the “Yen Won Garden” (it’s actually called Yen Wor Garden or something – Dustin kept correcting me – whatever, it’s forever Yen Won in my mind). This place is a Chinese restaurant, dive bar, karaoke funtime. I guess I have a thing for dive-y Chinese Restaurant bars? Anyway, I have been wanting to go there practically since Dustin moved into his apartment, and my wish finally came true on Saturday night (great way to start off the new year, right?).
When we walked in they were playing the "Party Rock Anthem” and I freaked out and forced Dustin to dance with me on the “dance floor” – no one else was dancing. Side note: I don’t really get my obsession with that song on NYE, I think it was something about how it was associated in my mind with tons of good 2011 memories? When we were done shuffling, I got another drink (obviously necessary) and insisted that Dustin and I sing karaoke. He was all, “um no.” I was all “YES WE’RE AT THE YEN WON GARDEN, WE HAVE TO!” Then he was like “It’s yen WOR, and I’m drunk, and you’re wearing a pretty dress and I like you, so sure” (I’m not sure if that’s really what he said, but in my mind he did). Then I was like, “I want to sing ‘Disturbia’ by Rihannah.” And he was like “do you know ALL THE WORDS?” And I was like, “YES! Of course, you! This was my JAM senior year of college.” And then before I knew it they were calling our names to sing in front of like 10 really classy people who were not amused, and I was shoving the microphone in Dustin’s face because, shocker, I did not know all the words. I was also laughing and dancing all over the stage and screaming “dum dum de dum!” It was so much fun, you guys. That’s the 100% truth!
After we “sang” our karaoke, we danced some more while other people sang, and the girl DJ/Karaoke master joined us for some dancing (and then there were three) and said we were awesome and then it was 2am and they were closing. After that Dustin and I went back to his apartment to drink more expensive champagne straight from the bottle (whoops, sorry) and stay awake until 6:30am.
The next day was a waste. We felt miserable, and then we ate some bacon and fried potatoes and later a whole pint of rocky road ice cream and a whole bag of popcorn and drank a lot of soda water with bitters and then we slept for 12 hours straight in an attempt to heal ourselves. The day after that was a waste too (besides the whole Ducks winning the Rose Bowl thing, which Dustin was SO happy about).
Overall, the weekend was really amazing.
Also Dustin, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry that I, in fact, did not know all the words to “Disturbia”, and I think you are the very best and also my most FAVORITE person for making my NYE so amazing (for the second year in a row), and for buying all of my drinks that night (and most nights), and my dinner too, and just for feeding me (all the time) in general. Oh, and also thank you for putting up with all of my crazy nonsense all the time. I have muches of loves for you, favorite boy.
And that was it, guys!
I hope you all had wonderful new year’s eves and midnight kisses and new year’s days too!
P.S. this year I’m resolving to take better care of my skin. I failed at washing my face on the first day of the year because of the hangover. But hey, that only leaves room for improvement, right? Right.
Friday, December 30, 2011
The best parts of 2011
I’m jumping on the bandwagon and doing a 2011 recap.
So many good things happened this year! Here are just a few of them (starting in January and ending in December):
Jonathan and Jessie got married
I went to Chicago for St. Patty’s day and saw the green river
I dressed up as a mothereffingBEAR for Beth’s purple birthday party
I went to law school prom with Dustin
I discovered the MAGIC that is a top knot (and basically stopped washing my hair)
I finished my 2nd year of law school!!
I celebrated being done with another year of law school
I moved to a trailer park on an Indian reservation in the middle of nowhere Oregon
I had my first ever grown up lawyer-ish job doing estate planning for Umatilla Tribal members
I went camping (for the first time in years) for my brother’s 22nd birthday
I had the BEST 4th of July [weekend] (brunch party, TREW party, camping with Dustin)
I also went to lake billie chinook with my brother and cousins that weekend
I went to Napa Valley for Danielle’s Bachelorette party
I survived my brother’s girlfriend’s pregnancy scare (barely) and then she moved into my parents house (again)
I finished my job
I spent three weeks in White Salmon/Hood River in August and partied it up with my besties every day
and generally just had good Beth and Marissa time which I loved
I started my 3rd and last year of law school
I was a bride’s maid in Danielle and Steffen’s AMAZING wedding in Half Moon Bay
went to some Husky Football games
I went hunting and didn’t get anything
I went to Hops Fest in Hood River
My “twin” Sarah got married
We started the no boyz allowed club and Wednesday dinners got me through so many school weeks
I got in TWO really crappy car accidents
I celebrated Dustin’s 32nd Birthday
I had an amazing Halloween
I represented [juvenile] clients in court for the first time ever
I turned 25
My baby tot cousin was born the day after my birthday
Dustin and I celebrated the 1 year anniversary of our first date
I spent my first ever Christmas away from home
And some of the music that will always remind me of 2011 (probably not in any order):
The Foster the People CD
Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
So many Rihanna songs (we found love, cheers, you da one, what’s my name, etc.)
& so many Lady Gaga songs (born this way, you and I, the edge of glory, etc.)
Buzzin – Mann
Drop it Low – Ester Dean
Hello – Martin Solveig
Ce jeu – Yelle
Just can’t get enough – Blackeyed Peas
ET – Katie Perry
Buttons – The Weeks
Shake it out – Florence and the Machine
Tongue Tied – Grouplove
Your Song & also Lights by Ellie Goulding
The Jay Z & Kanye CD (mostly Monster & Otis & N***** in Paris)
the Hood Internet
Black and Yellow – Wiz Khalifia
that Better with the Lights off & also that kick it in the back seat song
& also Stereo Hearts and Moves like Jagger and Adele because that’s ALL that’s ever on the radio
Also some of my favorite fashion trends of 2011 (because you know, things like that are cool):
top knots
stripes every day
fur vests
sparkles
booties
everything Native American print
cropped-ish shirts
Last of all, some awesome 2011 pictures, because what’s a blog without pictures? (again, in no particular order):
So here’s to hoping 2012 is as good as (or better than) 2011 has been. I hope you all have a happy New Year (and a happy time celebrating New Year’s Eve – p.s. I finally got a sparkly dress to wear)! Catch you all next year!!