Monday, December 13, 2004

From Tickled Pickle to Relish

Long Weekend

Unlike most weekends, the fun this week started all on Thursday. I was invited by some new friends to celebrate the birth of another; which happened to be a famous author. The recipe for the night included a few drinks, a few laughs, and too much tabasco.  Read more [+/-]

I was invited by the country boy, Michael, to celebrate the birthday of Rob Byrnes. There, I was introduced to fellow bloggers Patrick, Matthew, the non-blogger Wayne, and the hilarious Brazilian bartender Eli.

I've visited their blogs before, and this experience with them made one thing shockingly clear: How amazing they are on their blogs, they become exponentially more in person.

I also realized that they are SO out of my league. They are so funny, so nice, so genuine, that anyone who is new (me) would be intimidated by their camaraderie. But they won't even let you (me) feel intimidated! Actively engaging, telling stories, and cracking jokes (where I felt inadequate). I also feel extremely lucky to share in those memories.

Be asured I won't forget the tabasco shots, the drunk dialing, or the new friendships.

AIDS Dance-a-thon!

I expected to volunteer for Move Against AIDS this past Saturday. However, days before the event I was told that all positions were filled, dispite the fact that I signed up 3 weeks prior (I had to call them to find out I wasn't on their list)! After two phone calls and a couple of unreplied emails, I had not made any progress. I guess I just wasn't meant to volunteer for this event... or was I?  Read more [+/-]

You should know by now I'm not going to let just two phone calls and unreplied emails stop me! Who does that volunteer coordinator (that I affectionally referred to as the biatch from then on) think she is anyway? Doesn't she know that I want to donate my time in a selfless act of charity and perhaps accost any celebrities I see?! That BIATCH!

So what does an unwanted volunteer do? Volunteer anyway! That's right folks. First off, the biatch doesn't know what I look like. And what kind of monster would turn away a volunteer who has actually bothered to show up (which I wouldn't put past her; remember she wouldn't speak with me on the phone and ignored my emails)?

Luckily, I didn't have to deal with her during the event. Not being on the list didn't seem to be a problem; I probably scored brownie points for showing up early (Go me!).

And that's how I met my cross-racial twin, Jai. Seriously, do you notice that the color of our skin, eyes, hair are so similiar? Add in the fact that the color of our clothes (white, green, and blue) are matching! Even our smiles are similiar!

I also met a totally awesome couple, K. and S. (pictured left). It was K's birthday too! How awesome is she? Knowing that fellow blogger 1000 words was going, I kept an eye out and pleasantly surprised him! (his recount and pictures)

When greeters were no longer needed, I joined an old highschool friend, who was also a volunteer, at the snack stand. I hadn't seen her in nearly 5 years, so it was nice to catch up. After the event, I walked her home and went on my own merry way; recounting the cunning way I got to be a volunteer in my head and a bag full of mini Clif bars in my hand.

Addendum 12/13: I also met Wes of Boy Meets Boy fame! I didn't have the opportunity to interview him or take a picture with him; but he did hold my hand for 2 minutes! Not kidding! (We were performing the human circle of protection.) How sad is it that I get excited meeting reality TV stars...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

You may have the same skin tone as Jai - but yours is natural, not bottled.

It was goog seeing you and thanks for being so headstrong in your pursuit to volunteer.

Anonymous said...

btw - nice pickle.

- 1000 Words

Jon said...

Jai seems really sweet, but hi role in Queer Eye is more or less useless. All he does is say things like 'hold the door for ladies' or 'look peopple in the eye when you speak to them'. Um, isn't this common sense?

Michael Vernon said...

It was so good to have your company! No one is out of your league. That's crazy talk! Thank you for joining us, and consider yourself part of us, and don't be a stranger! (Keep the tabasco away from me, though.)

PatCH said...

I liked the Tabasco shots. In fact, I think that may become a staple around these here parts. And what's this nonsense about being out of leagues? We're all human, Jason. We're all in this together. It's all about enjoying the time we have together, and new friends are always welcome.

Rob Byrnes said...

Michael and PatCh are wrong. Not because *you're* not in my league, but because *they* aren't. But we'll just make that our little secret...

Brechi said...

i love tabasco....hot hot hot. ;)

epicurist said...

Good on ya! What a great cause!

Jase said...

1000 words: Thanks! oh.. and the pickle was really a private joke for FARB.

Jon: You would think so, wouldn't you?

Michael: Alright, I'll come back now, y'hear!

PatCH: That's really beautiful.

Rob: That's sweet! I'll keep that between us too... (oh.. picked up on the pickle?)

Epi: Thanks! Strive to beat the biatch - that's my new motto.

Jase said...

brechi: tabasco is too sour! vietnamese 'chicken brand' garlic chili. You'll sweat just thinking about the inevitable bottom-busting.

No Milk Please said...

glad you persisted in volunteering your time. i think that it is a rare person who volunteers and the fact that you did not turn away even though that bitch was a biatch proves you're one rara avis indeed. congrats on the celeb sightings!

No Milk Please said...

also, how did you do the "cut" html? i've never mastered how to do this...

Jase said...

No Milk: Thanks! I initially thought you misspelled an insult with 'rara avis', but after looking it up, it means something good! And all is well.

Shoot me an email and I'll try to explain it the best I can. ;)