I recently went on my third trip to the Big Apple (still haven't really done the touristy thing, I failed at getting gifts and I failed at taking my own pictures ... it'll happen someday, I promise) to see some dear friends of mine.
My first flight was canceled due to this HORRIBLE situation called SNOW. I honestly don't know how anyone can live where they get that crap on a consistent basis. It's pretty, yeah sure, but functional? Negative. I finally fly out of fear-stricken Texas a day late and end up in New York around 7 pm. I make my way via cab all the way to Chris's apartment by my lonesome (pfft, southern girls can navigate cabs and big cities ... we aren't helpless) yet somehow got confused once I was on his street and he yelled down from his window at me. He's always yelling at me, so I was pretty un-phased. He greets me outside and once inside his apartment, he says, "Come see my bathroom." I'm pretty ... oblivious? I didn't think anything of it, I just assumed something about his bathroom changed significantly enough that'd he want to immediately point it out. I open the door while asking him what the hell was so important about the bathroom when I SAW MY BF2E DAVE STANDING THERE!
1) I screamed. I was terrified by the fact a person was standing there when no one should have been.
2) Dave wasn't able to go on this trip, so it was IMPOSSIBLE he could be standing there!
Regardless of all of this, after my initial shock and surprise, I hugged him and almost cried. THE FAMILY WAS COMPLETE. So. Happy. One of the best surprises ever. :)
We went to eat before Stephen and Evan arrived and due to travel and surprise, I wasn't very hungry, so I ate some fruit while they ate more substantial food (this was a bad idea on my part). Greg and Bill met us back at the apartment (they knew Dave was there) and we had a couple drinks which led to me being slightly intoxicated by the time Stephen/Evan arrived since I'd eaten so little. Stephen knew Dave was there, so we had Dave hide behind the futon to surprise Evan.
I'm such a dumbass. I couldn't hide my happiness and was smiling at Evan like an idiot so he KNEW something was weird. But in a rare Evan over the top moment, he was completely surprised when Dave stood up.
So. Amazing. My second family was whole.
The family in all our weird glory. hahaha, this picture cracks me up. Usually -I'm- the one lookin' a fool in pictures, ruining them all, but I'm the only normal person in this picture. hahahaha. Winner.The first night was fun. We just stayed in, drinking together and generally enjoying each other's company. We played gay truth or dare WHICH I LOVED but I don't think they all did. Boo. Lil Gee got sick and I started calling him puke bebe and Stephen ran off, but we all ended the night together and alive. That's what counts, right?
Friday night was Dave's last night (he could only stay until Saturday due to some dumb conference or something) so we wanted to make it fun! We hungovered around Chris's apartment, went to CPK for lunch (YUM), lazed about some more until dinner at Dallas BBQ (our margarita adventure zone from last time we were in NYC together!) where we met Bryson and Dan!
Embarrassing story: I had a rather intimate dream about Bryson a couple weeks/days/whatever prior to this meet up and in that dream he'd been a cowboy.
ANYHOW. So we meet them, order some delicious margaritas and I spend dinner gossiping with Bill on our end of the table. Evan has some rather yelly moments. First, he yelled at Lil Gee and Stephen when they couldn't hear the server asking how they wanted their burgers cooked: "HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR MEAT COOKED." Then my dream with Bryson was brought up and Evan turned to me and said (rather fiercely!), "If you don't tell him, I WILL."
Geez, Evdogg. :P
It was a fun dinner overall and after two TEXAS-sized margaritas and two tequila shooters, we were all feeling rather fiiiiiiiiiiine. I don't really remember the subway ride back to the apartment:
But I love this picture of the famfam. I love mah golden boys.
UGH. I wrote about karaoke right here, but stupid blogger stupidly deleted it and made it stupid.
Essentially:
- Bill was ill, Lil Gee took care of him and googled a karaoke bar for us
- Went to said karaoke bar
- Dave bought our dranks (thanks) and we were shooting tequila all night
- Sang our song, "Survivor" by DC
- Danced
- Amazing night with amazing guys
Oh. I fell on the walk back. My knee is still in recovery. Go figure.
Saturday was another hangover mope-around day. I think this was the day we watched Mean Girls? Chris had never seen it before so Lil Gee was pretty adament we watch it. Which is fine. I LOVE THAT MOVIE. I showed the guys some amazing youtube videos that quickly became themes for the trip (baby monkey, ducklings, cats flushing toilets) and we watched GSN and laughedlaughedlaughed because Stephen is hands-down the funniest friend I have. The thing I love most about Stephen is he is filter-less. He says what he means and means what he says. He just says whatever is on his mind and has no shame. It's wonderful and incredibly hilarious. :)
- New baby
-What's "light touch?!"
- Vulva
LOLS
Brybry was drinking water because he's responsible and likes to swim fast. Kudos to you.
It was a really great night and I LOVED meeting Brybry and Dan. Dan is such a sweet guy and I'm so glad we spent that time together! :) Poor boo ... he was the sicky for that night.
Sunday we lazed about again (a theme) an Brybry and Dan left, Chris had to go to work, so me, Evan, Stephen, Lil Gee and Bill were on our own. We ate some leftovers then left the wrecked apartment to go ice skating.
Which. I AM HORRIBLE AT. But it was still SO much fun! I think I'd like it more if I wasn't hungover. The cutest thing: while Bill & I were skating together, we passed this little boy who'd just fallen and was being helped up by his mom. He said, with a beaming smile on his face, "I LOVE ICE SKATING!" SO CUTE. :)
Bill ended up being stuck with me the longest and I took him down once. My bad. When they helped me up, this little girl came up to me and said, "You fell down right in front of us and made US fall." I AM SORRY LITTLE GIRL. :( But it was a lot of fun! I had to show Evan how to ice skate, but whatever, I'm a pretty gracious teacher.
We stayed in and made dinner together/watched the super bowl then played more games and talked and relished being with one another. I was still pretty drunk when we woke up and we all looked a hot mess when Stephen/Evan/and I caught a cab to LGA. Leaving them is always so hard, but being still drunk made it not so bad. But I LEFT MY PHONE IN THE CAB. UGH UGH UGH. So I lost yet another phone. Fml. I managed through my Chicago connection and watched soldiers returning home to the applause of the entire airport and cried.
I lovelovelove these precious friends of mine. Having them in my life is such a gift, one I will treasure always.
Stephen, thank you so much for making this trip happen. Chris, thanks for letting us crash as your place yet again. Guys, thanks for always going to distance to make this beautiful friendship of ours work. It amazes me beyond words. I love y'all. :)
-christine
