I kept thinking it was Thursday all day long. Weird.
The lines were so long outside of Hart today that I ended up being almost 25m late to work. I got an email from C, reminding me we are expected to be here by 9a unless a staff member has instructed us otherwise. It was the first time I hadn't emailed Leslie to let her know (I totally forgot while standing outside in the freezing cold listening to the idiots behind me in line) so I apologized and chugged on.
B met me by Cannon for lunch, and we walked down Pennsylvania - I got a DELICIOUS salad from a restaurant called Cosi, and he got a burger from Good Eats, which is next door to We, the Pizza. We sat outside while we ate, and I fed the birds chunks from my wheat pita bread. B's stressed about work, and I had a lot to bitch about too - it's nice to get that break where you can get all the daily frustrations off your chest with somebody that is removed from it all.
About an hour after lunch, Leslie asked me and S to help her carry flowers downstairs for a retirement party our office was helping throw for a lady on the Science, Space and Technology staff. I ended up delegating cheese, meat, and cracker tray responsibilities as well as making sure the drink table was set up in the most efficient way too. One of the men helping, we'll call him La, has a wife that is a party planner, so he was able to teach me some tricks to help things look more appealing. Believe it or not, I really do shut my mouth and learn how to do things better sometimes.
When I realized they had multiple bottles of champagne that they were going to let the partiers pour themselves, I set my foot down and said that I would pour. One lady was really against it, she didn't want me "getting stuck" during the party (that was going to be full of people I didn't even know), but I was firm in my decision, and got my way.
For the most part, it went very smoothly. There was another intern from California, Laura, helping us, and she was absolutely fantastic. Her sister had bartended in NYC (jealous!), so she stood back and watched how I interacted for a bit and then took charge and started doing it herself. We had a really good chemistry - we didn't get in each others ways once, and the whole time we were behind the table we had a blast. She wanted to try opening a bottle herself (I'd been popping the corks into the corner of the room we were right next to) and I don't know if she grabbed a warm bottle, or if she shook it first, but she spewed champy all over the wall and the curtains covering the window too. It was hilarious. I ended up running into a diet coke can later (they weren't put in a smart place - sort of under the table, but totally blocking the TRASH CAN) and spewed it all over the floor, but Laura had already left, so it wasn't nearly as entertaining.
Around 6:35 I decided to go ahead and head out, but when I went to let La know, he told me to go ahead and pour more champy, because he was going to start pushing people to finish it. I poured two more bottles and grabbed a third (one that I thought we had run out of, but found a warm bottle that I'd had on ice for about 30min) to check and see if it was ready, and if it was, ask La if he wanted me to go ahead and pour it too. Understand that at that time, we still had two bottles on ice, and many more in a box to the side. Some girl came up to me that I had only spoken to once or twice, and told me "We shouldn't pour anymore champagne - there's more than enough"....Okay, pet peeve #451: I can't stand it when people say "we" when there is no WE about it. It's condescending and drives me nuts. Pet peeve #231: Don't tell me how to do my job. I bartended and cocktailed for SIX years. I know when to pour and I know when to check. I was trying to check.
I tried to explain to her what was going on, and when she FINALLY walked off, I just put the bottle back on ice, went and found La, and told him I was gonna head out. I could've stayed and steamed - not worth it.
I met B at TMH, changed into jeans, and we headed to Fogo de Chao. We had to walk 7/10 of a mile when we got off the metro. I know, I know, 7/10 of a mile isn't that bad...but, as the guy walking behind us in the park learned - I felt like a huge screw was going through my bottom. In through the right side, and out the left, and every step felt like it was tightening the screw. In my defense, I had no idea the guy was walking behind us and in all honesty, I really didn't care. I don't mind giving random strangers something to laugh about with their friends later. In fact, I kind of like it. When he walked by, B was being very loud about the fact that he heard everything, the guy was smiling, and I said, "You're welcome".
But seriously, a giant screw through my butt. In fact, when I sat down on the subway, I could feel every single vertebrae stretch and pull. B got pictures of the whole thing, of course. To make matters worse, when we finally got to Fogo de Chao, B recognized the area and realized that there was a metro station RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
When we got inside, they told us the wait would be about an hour, so we grabbed a couple seats at the bar. B got a cab sauv, and I ordered a Knob Creek and Sprite. I end up ordering this every time I have to wait at a Fogo or Texas de Brazil. What's funny about the whole thing is that it's not even something I like. I just want to feel grown up (I never get carded when I order it - because obviously no minor would order a bourbon and sprite) and look cool! Haha. I really like the label on the bottle too. It kind of looks like an old passport that's been stamped a lot. :) Whatever.
A half hour later and the drink was barely an inch below where it had started. In my defense, the bartender was VERY gracious with his pour. Wow. B asked if I wanted more Sprite in it, and I told him no, because I've done that before, and it never makes it taste better. Oh well. When we got seated, I chugged most of it.
Dinner was fabulous, as it always is at Brazilian steakhouses. Their cheesy bread rolls tasted like they came straight out of the oven in Heaven. Warm, a bit flaky, seemingly full of air until your tongue hits the light cheesy center that melts into the rest of your mouth, mixing in with the bread...bliss.
When the server with the fillet Mignon walked by and asked if we wanted in, I about YELLED "yes". I've been craving a good steak for the last two weeks, and while the rest of the meat was good, the filet was what my heart had been set on from the moment B had said Fogo. It was wonderful.
Surprisingly, I didn't eat nearly as much as I used to. It puts into perspective just how much my eating habits have changed since I got here. I eat mini meals throughout the day, and the excessive walking definitely helps. I felt bad, because B picked up most of the check, but he was fine with it, and both of our tummies were happy, so it was all good.
Walking ACROSS THE STREET to the metro was good too. :)
I went the extra stop with B, because I won't be seeing him tomorrow morning before he leaves. We said our bye-byes, and when I got on the train, he walked up to the window and put his hand out on the glass. I cracked up, because the train had quite a few people on it, and they were all watching. As the train started to take off, he jogged beside it, hand still on the glass. I thought I was gonna pee my pants, I was laughing so hard. The people in the train with me were completely confused, and prolly thought I was a total bitch, or that B was an over-eager potential boyfriend, regardless, they got their story to tell friends and family. Again, they're welcome.
I talked with my dad for a bit on my walk back to TMH. I was trying to call to talk to Nom - she'd washed her cell phone, which is why I called my dad's phone, but she was getting ready to go run, so I told him to just have her call me when she was done.
Found out that a friend is probably going to have to re-enlist in the Army, or agree to be done in two years, which would ultimately cost them their promotion and force them out now. Not happy about that - shouldn't the decision to re-enlist not be bullied? I mean, I don't know how it all works, but it sounds frustrating to me. We'll see how it goes.
Talked to Nom for a good while - she leaves for Mexico tomorrow to go clean teeth until Saturday. She told me they'll be spending the nights in Texas though, so that makes me feel better.
*Until Next Time!*
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