a gathering of wizards

 

i threw my friend jonah a surprise party a few weeks ago. i constantly keep a notebook of lists (it's with me at all times) and i had made a note to throw him a surprise party. which means he probably mentioned wanting one or never having one or something like that. he also likes wizards so it seemed like a logical conclusion to make it a wizard themed surprise party.

so people came over. they dressed up. some were very creative in their interpretations of the term 'wizard'. we hid and surprised jonah and sang over a cake i made to look like a replica of the cake hagrid gives harry in sorcerer's stone. he claimed he knew it was coming, but i still seriously doubt it. and also, for everyone out there who may have a surprise party thrown in their honor one day, who may be on the receiving end of a celebration planned and executed for you by 30 some odd friends, where even your distant friends skype in to be a part of it, just friggin pretend. just act surprised and excited and happy. it's really crummy to act like you knew, even if you actually did know. just play along for that brief moment. because if you don't, it's going to make the party planner want to dump the cake on your head. and not in a fun crazy party way.

then we drank beers and taped them together to play wizard staff. this resulted in pretty hilarious morning-after scenes in our house. just huge columns of cans all over the place. we also did flaming french toast shots with a harry potter twist - just throwing cinnamon on top of the flame and making them dance. i trashed our counter. so sticky. our floor was also wrecked. but it was terrific.

the best thing about parties is the costumes.
the second best thing is having a huge group of people you love all in one place.

the journey to nu hempstar: part c

 

then we went out! on the town! specifically, a beach town. chrissy took us to a trashy beach bar but made the mistake of walking me past the arcade on our way in. as soon as i saw those neon lights i was itching to get my skeeball on. we stuck around for one drink and got hit on by some creepy dudes before we decided to bounce and hit up the arcade. score one for caitlin.

we all got our skee ball on and set our sights on a prize - the harmonica. i went back to inform the posse that we were still short fifty tickets and some young man in a suit (what?) came up and gave me all his tickets. it was just like an episode of touched by an angel. i almost wept on the spot. we got our harmonica and beth said it sucked because it only played three notes and you couldn't breathe in the make a sound but she is a hater and i recognized the magic of the harmonica that was made possible by the kindness of strangers.

then we got photobooth pictures!

then we went to a bar that looked like somewhere freddy prinze jr. frequented in 1999 - low ceilings, all white, with blue ocean-y lights everywhere. their clinetele was all over 40 divorcees but they had a swinging band and we got smoking patron shots. bliss bliss bliss.

the next morning was full of brunch and good byes, followed by another crazy long car ride. but it was a beautiful beautiful weekend in the most summery fantasyland of all time, the ever lovely, new hampshire.

the journey to knew hamper: part dos

 

DEAR SWEET GRAVY BEANS. there are so many pictures from this one weekend! looks like someone can't be trusted with an i-phone, ammiright?!

after the beach, we all took turns taking showers (one bathroom, ten buddies, tons of prep time) and getting ready for dinner and sitting around in christine's gorgeous backyard. she lives on a tiny back road and has a total backyard fantasy working behind her already adorable home. there's a hammock, a barn, a garden, a fort, a firepit - the works. seriously ideal. i was cruising around in bathing suit bottoms and a t-shirt feeling like a billion bucks. if heaven is in new england, i'm pretty sure it's at christine's house.

after we were all ready, we put on red lipstick. then we were really all ready.

drove to portsmouth and had dinner at the friendly toast. oh man. serious food coma. they pushed two tables together and we all sat around like a giant family dinner. highlight: christine got pbr in a bottle! crazy pants!

PART THREE IS ON THE WAYYYY! HOLD ONTO YOUR HORSES!

the journey to new hamster: part one

 

we went to new hampshire ya'll.

former roommate and dear friend, chris fish, was living there for the summer with her parents in the most adorable home surrounded my all of gods green earth. the EIGHT HOUR DRIVE (capitalized, because it should have been six hours, but connecticut hates us) was full of mix cds, frustration over the people crossword puzzle, cheesey party mix, and delirious conversations. but upon arrival we were greeted by the rest of our posse and fireworks and solo cups full of rum and ginger beer.

all ten of us slept in the house like some sweet ass camp. the next day we ate salty bagels and went to a class england beach with some wes anderson-y name like 'little plum island' or something. the sand was chunky and the water was cold and somehow we all magically had black bathing suits on (though veronica was quick to point out that hers is actually navy - typical new england shit). this baby fell asleep on the beach as expected and got sunburn all up on my lower back, also as expected.

PART TWO ON IT'S WAYYYYY.