offbalance | Jul. 5th, 2011

I keep meaning to/trying to post updates on here, but it never seems to work out. Let's have a quick recap for now:

The Good
This weekend was pretty excellent, all told. Epic amounts of running around that resulted in desperately-needed new sandals and a haircut. There were fireworks out in the wilds of Red Bank, NJ, at the (really nice) home of

j_bkl's sister. She had a perfect view of the Red Bank fireworks, which I am told are famous in NJ (is that like being big in Japan?). We got home late, but it was a really fun day. And I received lots of kudos for the all-American mix I made for the party.

Yesterday I didn't get to see fireworks at the Liberty Belle spectacular, since the Empire Hotel was so far uptown. Still, it was an awesome night spent with

airspaniel,

rockradar,

j_bkl and our friend Maryiln. It had a bit of a rocky start (you know that friends episode when Ross is trying to get everyone out of the house in 25 minutes? Kind of like that), but all was fine once we arrived, overpaid for a few drinks (oy), and found a beautiful spot to camp out. Lots of good times were had, but sadly, not much dancing. Next one, hopefully. (

redstapler, you were actively missed.)

On the ankle - the cortisone shot kicked in the Saturday morning following the Monday I got the shots and the two days I was stuck home. Everything feels basically back to normal now, except I can tell you exactly when it's going to rain. The doctor, after hearing my litany of complaints about being incapcitated, only said "That happens sometimes." Really. What also happens sometimes is that if anything like this happens again, I'm finding another orthopedist. Jackass. But on the up side, the ankle is working and I think I can use it for cardiovascular activities. It's passed every subway test with flying colors, so we'll see about the gym later this week.

The Bad

Currently, it's raining plaster and water from our bathroom ceiling. (I don't really want to contemplate the source of the water). I am really annoyed. It's not even the first time this has happened. I'm hoping this can be dealt with before it gets much worse.

As fun as the barbecue was, I'm currently covered in mosquito bites from the knees down. Apparetently, my legs are delicious. Who knew? I wonder if there's some kind of Mosquito Michellin guide. Maybe a biting insect Zagat's. If there is, I'm in it.

The Ugly, Yet Hilarious:

I was treated to the experience of taking a NY-bound NJ Transit train on a holiday weekend this past Sunday (after the Red Bank fireworks). Lots of examples of public intoxication, and general asshattery, but mostly kept down to a dull roar. A few things of note:

- A group of rowdies that looked like next season's Jersey Shore cast. (J noted that one of the guys was wearing True Religion jeans and a bandana around his forehead, with his sunglasses seated atop the bandanna.) Aside from loudly screaming across the aisle to one another, they thought they were being hilarious by shrieking/screaming the lyrics to Tenacious D's "Fuck Her Gently" at the top of their lungs. D'aww. See, kiddums, I was singing that one before you were allowed to cross the street by yourself. it's as old hat as that fedora you're trying to make happen (and it's sonot happening). Thank God they got off after only two stops.

- One girl, seated by herself across the aisle and one row back from us, having a sobbing, screaming (fight? conversation? who knows?) phone call with her boyfriend, Pat. I first noted Sobby as she wailed "NOOOOO! OH NOOOOO!" into her cell phone. It caught my attention. I thought someone had died, God forbid. Or she was hurt or something. Nope. Best I could glean from the convo, Sobby got separated from her friends and the aforementioned Pat by a Red Bank police officer, who put her on the train. I'm guessing she was already drunk and separated from her friends at this point. That was about all I could glean from the series of calls, which went something like this:
"Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaht! WHERE ARE YOU, PAAAAAHT! WHY DO YOU HAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE MEEEEE! JUST TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE! LOOK AT THE MAPQUEST ON YOUR GARMIN AND TELL MEEEEEE WHERE YOU AAAAAARE PAAAAT! ::wails:: PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! TELL ME WHERE YOU AAAAARE! I'M ON THE TRAIN! I WILL SEND A TAXI FOR YOU PAAAT!" And on, and on, before she finally got off in Matawan. (seriously).

- After Sobby exited the train (after several well-meaning folks stopped to ask her if she needed help and received downright nasty responses from her), we were approached by two girls a few rows up from us who were also extremely amused by the whole Pat opera. They were sweet, obviously a bit young, and were a bit exasperated when they found out that the train we were on did not, in fact, go to Long Branch. (We were almost at South Amboy at this point). Granted, they went looking for a conductor and managed to wrangle their other friend, a tall, blonde girl whod' been quietly sobbing for several stations, but had been drowned out by Sobby's antics. According to one of the girls, she said her friend was fine, and it was all "boyfriend shit" and they'd "take care of her." And they did, although they couldn't stop her from getting up too fast and bashing her head into the luggage holder. D'oh.

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Trivia tonight! Hopefully more updates tomorrow.