beer and boys

it's gidge's birthday today. she's 29. ahhh, to be 29 again. so, anyway, the entire gang (and one very shy hubby) trooped to this surf and turf resto last night to toast to our very good friend's final year as a tortured twenty-something. after all, next year, she'll be a jaded thirty-something.

the place, i have to say, was a very yuppie hangout. lots of boys in loosened ties, tossing back bottle after bottle of san miguels, singing "girlfriend in a coma" (or yet another '80s anthem) at the top of their lungs. very amusing in a disturbing sort of way.

there was a particularly rowdy bunch of tie-wearing boys in the next table, and cousin and i couldn't help but check them out. cousin liked one guy who kind of reminded me of a crush from kindergarten. cousin wanted to rush over to him and offer him "company" - in a very funny, paid-escort manner. he was so intent on getting wasted though. meanwhile, i sort of had my eye on this fellow right across from me. i think he even smiled at me and raised his beer bottle in a silent salute. but i can't be too sure. it was, after all, past eleven, and he had been drinking a good three hours. maybe even more. so he might have thought i was a blurry image of his girlfriend, coming to take him home. besides, a raised bottle of beer in your honor isn't much of an honor, is it?

cousin and i headed home past twelve, after kissing gidge on both cheeks and wishing her a happy birthday. "first picture of you" by the lotus eaters scored our departure. it was all very... i don't know... just very, i guess.