Drinks on a Wednesday? Don't Mind if I Do

Last night was a night which Jenn and I decided we needed to go out for drinks. So what if it was a Wednesday and we both were planning on waking up at 6:30 the next morning, we needed a drink, we're of legal drinking age and there was nothing stopping us, so we went out.

There are two locals bars in Newport in my opinion. Yes, locals go places other than these two bars, but if on any given night you are interested in finding people who's parents were raised in Newport, probably also their grandparents, and all three generations went to the high school, then these are your places to go. The two bars are Cappy's and O'Briens. O'Briens is closer to our homes, and normally has a younger crowd, so being locals (and faithful 5th warders), we went to OBs.

One great thing about OBs (there are many, including their nachos) is that Jenn used to work there, and this means we get treated extra well (OBs treats everyone well, but regulars and those who work(ed) there get treated extra well). For example: mixed drinks were poured in pint glasses rather than those weird small glasses they sometimes get mixed in (or worse, when it's really busy, plastic cups). So we grab a seat on the far side of the bar, near the wall (which is prime real estate) consume our beverages and start girl talk, which is really the whole point of going out for bevies with one of your closest girlfriends.

And then, to add to the awesomeness we were already experiencing that evening (which included very yummy nachos) Wednesday is karaoke night. Now, this wasn't awesome because I was itching to practice singing, no, this was awesome because it meant these two things: We got to listen to songs that you wouldn't normally hear at OB's (or really anywhere other than a themed event of some sort), and we got to sing at the top of our lungs to songs those songs that the we loved. Let me clear something up, karaoke at OB's is not the kind where the person singing is the center of attention and everyone gives them the utmost respect, Karaoke at OB's is sung by drunk people who normally don't sing very well. Don't get me wrong there are some amazing singers from time to time (the woman who was in charge of the music is an example) but largely it was people who couldn't sing the songs even with the lyrics staring them in the face.

So Jenn and I enjoyed our prime real estate, and our amazing status as locals verging on regulars, girl talked, heckled (if you are singing karaoke to a crowded bar, don't sing a slow song, people are just going to talk even louder over you) (if you're going to order a shot, suck it up and take it already!) (seriously, it may just be OBs, but jeans are as comfortable as sweats, and look nicer, come on now people), and had an awesome night overall. I'd like to think we were a bit like Statler and Waldorf, funny regulars with a bit of a crude side.




photo taken from Wikipedia, because it's a wonderful source of information, like what the names of the old men from the Muppet Show are.

coffee + work = ritual

I am not a serious coffee drinker. I like iced coffee with cream and sugar. I like espresso in the form of a mocha, hot or iced. Hot coffee is something I drink with flavored creamer as a social act. I don't go out of my way to get a hot cup of coffee, I'm not really a fan of it. There is one flavor of coffee I do enjoy to drink hot (and iced) with just milk: hazelnut. Not really sure what it is about this flavor that I find so amazing, but I do enjoy it, so this afternoon, because the brew of choice was hazelnut, I am partaking in the afternoon ritual of most of my co-workers, the afternoon cup of coffee.

Coffee here at work is a little bit of a religion. The "old guys" get here by 7am and make a pot of "average" coffee and a pot of de-cafe. The rest of the group is in by 9, and a pot of the "good stuff" is made. Now I put it in quotes because of how serious they are about this. The good stuff is always beans that they grind per pot, and it's the kind of bag you spend more than 6 dollars on (think size you see at the counter of a starbucks or dunkin' donuts). The 9 o'clock cup is a grab and go. Sometimes a little talk around the table in the break room, but normally not too much, people have just recently arrived to work and have things to get done.

The next pot is made sometime between 1 and 2pm. Every now and then an 11 o'clock pot gets made, depending on the mood of the masses, but normally everyone can survive until after lunch for their next caffeine fix. Now the afternoon pot is a different beast than the 9am pot. It too is made with the good stuff, but this one is supposed to be enjoyed, and how better to enjoy anything than with a group of people. The afternoon cup is normally consumed around the table in the break room, where different things are discussed. The topic of converstation can be on work, cars, beer (beer is a common talk at work, something I enjoy immensely), coffee, women (women because the majority of my co-workers are men, both a blessing and curse when it comes with engineering), the weekend past or weekend coming up, you get the idea. It's not very often that this doesn't happen, it may be no longer than a 5 min talk, but is supposed to be a social cup of coffee.

Sometimes, though I am not a member of the coffee club (I don't drink it often enough to be willing to pay the 10 dollars a month, I'm a poor college kid), I partake in the coffee talk with a water in my hand. I like talking with my co-workers, they tell great stories, and there are some days where human interaction is much needed; especially days where I feel like I've fallen victim to my computer and it's bright screen of doom. Other days I continue to sit in the room next door to the break room and just enjoy the smell of fresh brewed coffee and the sound of co-workers talking, reminding me that I may be alone in my cave of misfit computer parts, but there are other human lifeforms just outside my cubicle wall.

Today is one of those days where I'm content to stay in my cave. I smelt the coffee on my way to the bathroom, and decided I couldn't resist the afternoon cup. I grabbed my mug, fixed myself a cup with cream (paid the 75 cents it costs non-members, see why 10 a month isn't worth it? I have no more than 4 cups a month) and came back to my computer, mostly because there was no one to draw me to the table and engage in conversation with. Now there are people around the table, but I'm content to sit here at my desk and just know that the ritual of the afternoon coffee talk is happening, even if it is happening later than normal (shame on them).

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

I know, I know, Where the Wild Things Are overload, but it's always been a favorite of mine, and just because it's been made a movie and there has been major hype over it I will not stop loving it. :)

Where to start...

Working my final co-op (six month internship) has been good, and they've kept me busy for the most part, but every now and then I find that I have downtime. During this downtime I've found that Google News is a good place to try and keep myself somewhat informed as to what is going on in the "world" though I tend to stick to the Sci/Tech, Entertainment, and U.S. groups. In the Entertainment section I came across someone who writes for the Huffington Post, who has an amazing blog, and from there found a few more, and on top of that I just finished Julie & Julia, so I'm feeling inspired, and decided that a good creative output for me might be a blog, so here I am.

Once upon a time I had a live journal. I couldn't tell you what I put in it, probably the drama of my life as a middle school and high school student. Nothing really worth reading now, maybe not even then, but for those days where I just had to get something off my chest, it was the perfect place to go. So I'm going to try and start fresh with this blog, for the ability to share those inner monologues I come up with but then never share with anyone because there just isn't the right place to do so. Sure, I have a facebook account, but people who have friended me don't necessarily want to read accounts of what I did with my day, or something that struck me as amusing in depth. Facebook is for those brief tidbits of people you think you should be keeping up with, but either they really aren't that close of a friend of yours, or you're just too lazy to keep in touch properly. I also have a twitter, but at 140 characters, what I really feel I need to put out there isn't going to fit.

So welcome to my blog. I can't promise I'll be witty or creative. I also cannot promise perfect spelling and grammar (spelling will probably be better when I'm posting from a computer that has something other than IE6 as the browser). But I can tell you this will be my place for words, thoughts, and possibly some pictures.