I learned last night that I'm psychic. No, really. I was the first person to show up at the pub, and when I was asked how many in the party I was waiting for, something made me say "eight" even though nine had been invited.  Two didn't show (Meredith and Guy 3 aka Jesse) but someone I hadn't anticipated coming - though she was more than welcome  - did, so we ended up with eight people anyway.

Since this is the fourth time this summer that I've gone out to a bar, I think I'm damaging my credibility as someone who is practically a non-drinker. The thing is though, I've only had 5 drinks in 4 bar visits.  The birthday girl had more than that last night, but more on that later.

Last night was a lot of fun, even if it was a little disappointing that a couple of people didn't show. I don't think anyone dwelled on that much, though. Someone else needs to guilt Jesse into coming. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have expressed doubt about his being able to come. D'oh! Christine is going to try to talk him into coming next week before she leaves the US and Jay leaves the state.

I fear we've scared Christine's boyfriend. He's from France, and seemed a bit taken aback by some of the conversation - once she translated for him. He speaks English, but not a terribly lot, so last night must have seemed surreal anyway. He liked playing darts, though, so that's good, right? 

 For a change we did some objectifying of men, but I promised not to post those pictures. (Aside, I have as many of guy 2's - Jay's - butt as anything else from last night) Laura decided to be booty inspector and we girls rated the guys' butts. They didn't seem to mind. I was only photographer, not gropper. That was Laura's deal 

Maggie decided that she wanted Ryan (yes, like that) but didn't want to be obvious about wanting to know where he was from - she wouldn't ask and wouldn't let me either. I worked it into a conversation later about meeting up for more frisbee near him and Ed, and told her. She told me I was smooth, and I then claimed to have mad skillz. Not mad enough to get Jesse to ever come out with us, but anyway... 

We saw some interesting things after we left the bar. Like: someone managed to get his drink out of the bar and was scolded when he tried to bring it into the little food place we went to next; someone wandered down the street wearing a traffic cone as a hat; about a dozen people showed up wearing teddies and other exotic underwear, including a guy. At first we all thought they were hookers, but eventually most of us were convinced they must have been coming from a party. Except for Jay who continued to refer to them as "the prostitutes."

Drunkness. I was not drunk. Laura was very much so, but given it was her birthday it was the goal. She didn't seem it until she shotgunned her last drink right before the bar closed (how come last call was at 1am? so early!). She claimed that the drink was "really strong" and I believe her. Why do drunk people feel the need to tell you that they're drunk? It was obvious, so she didn't need to keep telling us! We kept having to make her move so people could get out of the food place, since she was hugging the door to keep upright. Thank God she wasn't driving last night. Or maybe early this morning, since we parted ways around 2:30.

If I had any illusions that I'm beginning to look mature, Ed shattered them last night. (I know Ed and Maggie the least well) He asked people how old we are, and was dumbfounded when I said 29. I asked him how old he thought I looked, and he said 23. Vynce would appreciate that given he's 23 and people have asked if we're twins.

As we all left last night I asked Ed and Ryan if they were sure they didn't want me to take pictures of their asses too before we left, so we left them laughing.

With luck next week will be as fun. I don't know the day or venue yet, but those things have a way of working themselves out.