A couple weeks ago I got an IM from my friend Nate asking me if I wanted to go to a mutual friend's annual St. Patrick's Day blow-out in San Diego. Now, I rarely go on weekend getaways. My weekends are usually spent gaming, sleeping, drinking, rehearsing for shows, or -heaven forbid- shooting Break A Leg awesomeness. Taking a trip somewhere requires time and money and more effort than it takes to, for example, walk the block to the liquor store for a 6-er and a bag of chips. But, I won't be taking one of my annual vacations this year because I will be in a show during the time that would usually happen. And I had nothing to that weekend. So, after a moment's reflection I figured: why the hell not?
Now, if you haven't flown on Virgin Air, I highly recommend it. They have the tv's in the back of every seat from which you can watch shows, talk with other passengers, and order food and drink. Their service is pretty good as well. Additionally, if their are First Class seats available when you check in, you can upgrade your regular ticket for $50. The day we were to leave, I got a text from Nate saying he had gone ahead and done this. Happy Birthday to me.
Now, our buddy gives us a ride to the airport, which was cool, and since we had preboarded we got in line for security checks. We go through all the stuff: take shoes off, take off anything with even trace amounts of metal in, put everything in those bins that are never big enough for all your stuff, go through the scanner thing, and then wait for your stuff to come out the other side. The scanner things at the San Francisco Airport are neat: you stand in this plastic cylinder and the scanny bits revolve around you. I wanted them to beam me somewhere, but apparently they haven't got that far with the technology yet. Slackers.
Anyway, we go through the scanny thing and we're waiting there and there's a problem with some unidentified item in my bag. So they call the security chief lady over and she starts prodding my bag and asking my if there's something with batteries in there. Now, I always carry a flashlight in my bag, because, hey, they're useful. So, she pulls out my flashlight...and keeps digging. Eventually, she finds my drinking horn. This is a long cow horn with a metal bell on the wide end and a drinking cap that unscrews on the tiny end. She asked me what it was. I said it was a drinking horn. She asked me what it was for. I said it was for drinking out of and then sounding. "Sounding?" she asks. "Yes, like a trumpet," I reply. "I can demonstrate, if you like." "By all means," says she. So, in a crowded airport in front of the security chief, I sounded my horn like I was storming Isengard. We wee quickly sent on our way.
FLY FIRST CLASS! Oh man, if you have never flown First Class, try it at least once. As soon as you get on the plane they offer you drinks. Any service that you would normally have to pay for - you don't. That means free movies, free drinks...well, ok, not quite free because you did pay the extra cash, and on a 1 hour flight it is nearly impossible to go through their entire stock of whiskey (yes, I tried). But the seats are all comfy and there's tons of leg room, which is important to a tall guy like me, and I was just nice.
We got picked up at the airport in San Diego by three of our So-Cal friends and immediately headed to a bar. While we're sitting there at the booth we had confiscated, a somewhat cute girl sits down beside me and starts chatting me up. Shortly thereafter her gigantic female friend joins her (and therefore us) and starts handing out business cards for hosting BDSM parties. We left rather quickly.
The next day we spent helping clean up the house for the party that night, which were rumored to be legendary. Eventually, people started showing up, many of whom had no idea that Nate and I were going to be there. I always like surprising people like that. Suprise! I'm here! Yeah, great, but do you mind if I finish my shower? Go ahead! Ok, but can I do it without you watching me?
Just kidding!
Anyway, the party was pretty fun, but I didn't really consider it to be epic. Dunno, maybe I missed something. But I DID have the best corned beef I've ever had in my life. My friend makes it with Guiness and Tapatio. It was tender and juicy and ridiculous. I still dream about it. I don't think I went to bed before 4am for 3 days. And on Sunday I spent 4 hours playing lazertag with a 9 year old and a 2 year old. Our flight home was delayed an hour a half, which would put us in San Francisco at about 12:30am with a 1 hour ride home and I had to be up for work the next morning. And on the ride back we DID drink all the whiskey.
I was a wreck for 3 days after we got back, but MAN, did I earn it.
Wish us luck at the Streamy Awards!
Happy Jenday!