Yesterday for St. Patrick’s day I headed over to Blaggards. Where else would I spend an Irish holiday but the irish bar I typically goto. I don’t know how I did it, but I convinced Jayson to stay out, and actually get Gretchen to come into the city for the night. They meet up at Blaggards along with John who stayed for a round or two. Ben, Luke, Stanley, Danny, Beata and others showed up also. It was a fun night of hanging out, drinking, and eating. I didn’t stay out too late, but I didn’t get home till after 10. It was a long day but enjoyable day.
Food
My Birthday
Today was my birthday! I worked from home most of the morning. Then I meet up with Jayson, John, Danny, and Eric for lunch at Angelo Maxies. Steak birthday lunch was really good. I then headed to the office for a meeting in the afternoon. Then it was home to meet up with my parents and Beata for birthday dinner. Dinner was good. I had king crab legs! The perfect birthday food.
After dinner my mom gave me my gift. I knew what it was but it was still cool to see. A few years ago my sister bought me a sheet of $2 bills for a birthday gift. I wanted it since i thought it would be really cool. I hadn’t done anything with it for ages and mentioned to my my mom I wanted to get them framed. She got them framed (and had a much better job done than I would have paid for) and broght the finished product. It was really cool since I had it framed in a way that you can hang it with the front or back facing people. It looks awsome. I need to get a special hook to handle the weight of the frame and find a place to put it!
Grand Torino
Beata and I went to see Grand Torino on Monday. I read good things about the movie. It didn’t disappoint. It turned out to be a great drama. It also turned out to be pretty funny. That was unexpected. Well I should say it was unexpected by me. Beata said she read it was funny. I didn’t believe her. They were able to make a dark drama actually be a bit funny. I liked it.
Afterward we went to Dukes for some dinner. I haven’t been there in a while so it was good to go back there.
I am not sure why my friend Brian thought that I remind him of the Eastwood character. BG, I never beat someone down with a hand gun, and I don’t think I am that jaded:) Now my will might be as colorful as the one in the movie, but that is where I draw the line!
Coctails and Steaks
Today was a hectic day at work. I was in the office and my NY (NJ) team was also in. That means even more meetings than normal. Well, not really since every day this week was 100% filled with some meeting or another. After work there was a meet and greet at one of the other offices downtown. I walked over with some of the people from my office. It was a nice get together. I got to meet a few people I never have actually meet, but have spoken to on the phone dozens of time. That is always nice.
I had to cut out of the meet and greet slightly early to head uptown. I meet Beata and two of her friends for dinner at the Kobe Lounge. They had a restaurant week price fix going on. I never have done the restaurant week thing. I am not a fan of the limited menu’s of the price fix. This was good since if there wasn’t a price fix there is a good chance wouldn’t have ever gone to eat there. The food was fantastic but I don’t see the value of spending a ridiculous amount of money for a few ounces of special beef. My typical thinking is as long as i can still find a good steak for under $50 I am happy. What can I say I have simple food tastes! Overall I had a blast. I think I got along well with Beata’s friends and like I said the food was really good.
I took tomorrow off, but I still have to get up early to goto my accountant so I am now off to bed.
The Big 30
It was Beata’s birthday yesterday. She turned 30. She had a bunch of friends meet up at Mixx for drinks. I had a good time. It was my first time meeting Beata’s friends, but they all seemed cool. After Mixx a bunch of us headed over to the Delancey Lounge. Apparently Beata’s sister worked there and we got in without waiting on the line. I typically don’t goto clubs like that, and I certainly don’t get to avoid the line so it was a nice change of pace. The first floor was super crowded. We were able to head upstairs and it wasn’t as bad. We found some seats in the back and relaxed for a while. I don’t think anyone was drinking by this point.
We called it a night and I got a ride back to the Canal Street subway station.
Drinks With Friends
I worked from home today like I have been doing most Fridays. I was able to run out around 5:15 to go meet up with some friends for a few drinks. I shouldn’t have. My throat was hurting a little before I left, and is hurting more now. I meet up with Luke, Stanley, Ben, Vanessa, Jeannette, Danny & others for a few hours.
I am home now regretting the drinking and the going out. I did have a good time, it is just that my body is regretting it now! Lets hope this isn’t a cold, or the Zicam makes it go fast!
Yes, I Went Bowling
Last night I ended up going Bowling of all places. I don’t bowl very often, but whenever I do I have a good time. I went to Bowlmor near Union Square with a friend. We played 3 games. I was surprised I actually won all 3. My wrist hurt afterwards. I then remembered why i don’t go bowling very often. The wrist hurting happens. Oh well.
Also had drinks and dinner at the Heartland Brewery beforehand. That place is always fun. Work was typical craziness today. I was in the office today, but my team wasn’t. We switched the one day the local team meets to Thursday this week.
Another Long Monday
Today started off on a negitive. Well lets face it, all Monday’s do, but this one started off with getting a call from work at 6:30. That is never good. It then was hectic for most of the morning and early afternoon. By then all of the excitment from the weekend was squared away. Then it was time to focus on other outstanding issues. I was thankful when it was after hours, even though I can’t recall where 3-5PM went!
I had to take something for a brewing Migraine. Thankfully the drugs worked, but I am not happy that I had to take something. I am trying to limit the meds, but major head ache makes you take stuff.
Other than that the evening was ok. I cooked up some crab cakes for dinner. Checked my mail and tried to clean off some shows built up on my Tivo.
A Last Round Before Work
I went to Blaggards for a quick round of drinks last night. I said it would be quick since I knew I had to get up really early for work tomorrow. 3 rounds in I knew it wasn’t going to be as quick a night as I thought. I did get home at a semi-resonable hour but I had more rounds than I planned. I didn’t sleep so hot because of that. I did get to see a bunch of friends, so I was happy.
Getting the rental car this morning was painless, that is why I like Zipcar. The trip to New Jersey wasn’t so bad, but even at 9AM there was some light traffic. 10 miles takes 40 minutes with little traffic on in NYC.
South Street Seaport
Went out tonight to the South Street Seaport for dinner with a friend. It was nice. There was a fantastic view of the bridges in the snow. Really cool. The walk to the Seaport was really cold though! It was a good end to a really fun weekend. Now I need to unwind a bit before work tomorrow. No snow photos since it was really cold and I didn’t think to break out the camera phone!
For a change of pace I will work from home tomorrow and then go into the office on Wednesday and Thursday. Well it isn’t really a change of pace, since my schedule changes week to week.