Where everybody knows your name

Oh man, I had a weekend. I had such a weekend that it wiped me out into today. I had to stay home from work due to my throat deciding to swell itself shut for no apparent reason. I hate when that happens. Insert obligatory, "hah hah, Maki's throat hurts, he must be having gay sex" joke here. I'll wait. Feel better? Good. In the tradition of my blog as of late, you get my weekend update and then probably nothing else for the rest of the week. I know, I know. You're broken up about it. But I know you are just dying to hear about my weekend, right? Right? RIGHT? Sure you do.

So, heading backwards, I guess today counts as part of the weekend since I stayed home and didn't work. Because not working is awesome, indeed. So I played more F.E.A.R., in which one man kills lots and lots of people with guns and other assorted weapons. Then I began to watch season 4 of 24, in which one man kills lots and lots of people with guns and other assorted weapons. I love the Jack Bauer Power Hour. There's something about a show where all life's problems can be solved by threatening someone and then shooting them. Don't take my word for it, though. Go read Matt's fantastic post about it. Please come back, though. My feelings will be hurt if you don't.

Ok. Back? Good. So, yesterday was the finale for Survivor, in which my girl Stephenie completely botched everything by having some of the worst responses to jury questions ever. I mean, really, she knew they were going to grill her because nobody on the jury can ever keep any proper perspective and are all bitter hypocrites because that person beat them. Yet her answers were still garbage. Just tell them what they want to hear, dude. This is why I'd never be chosen to go on Survivor. I think their audition process consists of asking two questions. First, "have you ever watched Survivor before?" One must answer yes to this question or the audition is over. The second question would be, "have you learned anything from watching Survivor in the past?" The answer to this must be a firm no or you are immediately rejected. That's why I'll never end up on Survivor. Oh well. It's not like I won't watch the next Survivor, though. After all, I keep winning money off my parents every season, so that's incentive enough, I think.

I'd now like to take this time to mention that I hate Peyton Manning. I mean, seriously. I went to the Jags/Colts game (skybox seats, no less) and even if he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet, I still hate him. The guy just tore the Jags' defense apart. They've got one of the best defenses in the league and it was like he didn't even have to try. The game really wasn't as close as that final score indicated, either. They got destroyed. Trust me. At least the food in the skybox was good and the beer was free, so there's my silver lining for that game.

Saturday was party day. Went to a surprise birthday party for a former member of my department at Mongo's downtown. I love that place and I got to drink free margaritas and eat free mongolian barbecue and free cake and life was good. And for once, the person was completely surprised by it. Quite nice, and a good way to spend an afternoon. After that I went over to Holly and Brian's for a birthday/Christmas party, which was fun, except for one thing... I was literally the only single person there. Well, there was the 9 year-old girl, but, well, let's just leave that one where it is, shall we? Still, had a good time. Food was delicious, and they've got a really beautiful house, beating me in the Christmas tree department 3-0. Once I left, I then proceeded to head out to the beach to meet up with Matt, Steve and Co. at a bar called Your Place, then MacCouls later on. Lots of beer and shots were consumed. PK was supposed to meet up with us at MacCouls, but unfortunately didn't get there until about an hour after he was supposed to, but by that time we were leaving anyway. Next time, PK. Next time.

Even though it feels like it was a month ago already, that leaves Friday. Friday was the best night of the weekend, I've gotta say. Saturday was fun, but Friday was one of those weird nights where most everything works out, if only by sheer chance. First, I met up with a good buddy of mine that I hadn't seen for a while, and we saw Syriana. Good, but not quite great. I'll have to review that later, since a discussion of the oil trade and its cultural and human impact really doesn't belong in a post about me drinking, now does it? Didn't think so. After that I headed out to the beach, as usual, to another irish bar, named Coulhanes (I think. You'd think I know, since I've been there like 5 times now.) I was supposed to be there to celebrate a buddy getting his degree. As I walk in, I see another one of my good friends, who also happened to have graduated that night and who was also having her graduation party at the same bar. Go figure. She's got a whole bunch of people there with her, so I hang out talking to them for a while. It turns out one of them is best friends with one of my friends in Orlando, so I talked to her for quite a while. She's taken though, so everyone who just perked up at that one can relax again. Sorry, kids. After talking to her for a bit I saw that PK's roommates and some of their friends (including maple syrup girl) were there as well. PK was supposed to show up also, but, well, he didn't. Next time, PK, next time.

Shortly thereafter Matt & crew showed up, bringing the percentage of people I knew at the bar to a conservative 75%. It was almost like hosting a party at my own house, but without all the cleanup and general annoyance of worrying about CDs getting stolen and someone having sex on your bed other than you and all that. There was even a live band playing. Life was good. The only downside to that is when you start buying rounds of Guinness and decide to start a tab. Big mistake. The short of it? I'm out of spending money until payday. Again. Once again, it was worth it, though.

I hope you've enjoyed my weekly weekend recap. I wish I had more for you, but this only posting once a week thing is really draining the creativity right out of me. I'll have to get back on the horse sooner or later. I'm thinking all it might take is a little motivation from a man with a gun and an anger management problem going, "WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WITH THIS BLOG?" And then shooting me in the leg. Because that's how things work on the Jack Bauer Power Hour.