A group of children took over the row of cornhole games, running and jumping over the boxes and stealing the bags mid-game. We had pumpkin beer, steamy pierogi (almost as good as mine :) and McClures spicy pickle chips.

Pants even bought me a comfy Tashmoo tee :)

Last night Jenn pulled up in my driveway in her loaner, a beefy black Charger, which was hilarious and awesome all at the same time because we are used to running around town in her mini van. She is a notoriously crazy driver and I squealed and called to Jesus as she zipped onto the highway and across three lanes of traffic. We made it to Mexicantown in one piece and at Lyle’s recommendation had dinner at Los Galanes.

The restaurant was fairly empty, with most people sitting outside on the patio. We stayed in the a/c and ordered tacos and strawberry margaritas.

By the time our plates were clear and our drinks empty, I was so stuffed I had to recline my seat on the way home. We had our usual loud and obnoxious sing-a-long to Bouncing Souls, took Slayer for a tipsy walk around the neighborhood and then crashed on the couch for a few episodes of SATC.

BEST.

Every week or so, Jenn and I go on an ‘old lady walk.’ I’m not quite sure why we call it that, but we do. We both walk from our houses, meeting half was and then take Slayer around and around our neighborhood, rehashing our weeks and talking through our problems. It’s a good little therapy session.

Last night we dropped the pup off just before dusk and meandered over to the drug store for candy. I found Cold Stone ice cream flavored Jelly Bellies and Jenn loaded up on sugar free noms.

One by one I tried each flavor as we walked home. They tasted so realistic, the image of Violet Beauregarde blown up like a blueberry popped into my mind! “Violet! You’re turning violet!”

Jenn and her soon to be flatmate, Lindsey, threw a potluck for their birthdays Friday night. It’s not a great neighborhood, so I was pleasantly surprised to find the beautiful little ivy-covered house was tucked away in Cass Corridor next to a half-burned castle.

I brought cheesy potatos and Lana made a gluten free cake with raspberry filling and white chocolate frosting. The food was a really good and pretty creative. There was bright purple beet quinoa and some sort of sausage casserole topped with pizza rolls!

The birthday girl and I!

Pants and Dunner having a moment…I laughed at this for a good 10 minutes this morning flipping back and forth between the photos.

Jenn and I went to high school together, but didn’t actually become friends until college. Chatting after a basement show one night, we were called out by a mutual friend for shit-taking each other >_< Apologies were said and the rest is history.

Did you know we have matching tattoos of the Bikini Kill record player on our feet?

Happy birthday to my best friend. One of the smartest ladies I know (finishing up her second masters!). Someone who is always there for me when I need a bottle of wine and a good cry or a spur of the moment dance party. Love you!!

[ Putting on my most pathetic sad face ]

Pants and I met my parents at the hospital just after 5am and sat in the waiting room for almost an hour before they took me back. As they got ready to put in the IV I totally cried and made them get my mom because I am not a fan of needles – totally got teased for having a giant tattoo and still being scared.

It was incredibly strange to be wheeled into the operating room, knocked out almost immediately and wake up having no clue what happened. When I woke up in recovery I was in a lot of pain and just wanted to see my family and go home. My mom helped me get dressed for the first time in probably 20 years and then wheeled me out to where Pants was waiting with the car.

My mom cleaned my kitchen while my dad took a super spazzy Slayer for a walk. Pants put me in bed, went and bought my parents lunch, checked on me every hour as I slept off the anesthesia, made me food when I finally woke up, fed me my meds, took Slayer with him when he went to get dinner, stayed with me all night and in the morning made me breakfast.

After all of this I feel so lucky to have such wonderful, caring parents and to have stumbled upon a really, really good guy at just the right time. This is not something anyone wants to deal with so early on in a relationship and Pants has been beyond amazing right from the start.

And also Mae and Mandy who came over on Saturday to keep me company while Pants was at soccer. Mae brought homemade soup and hung out until I got all sleepy again.

I’m not going to write about my specific health issues, I just wanted to let you all in on what’s going on with me as I’ll be laying low for the next week so there won’t be too many posts. I’m feeling almost back to normal today and not in pain anymore, so hopefully the string of doctor appointments will be coming to an end very soon.

[ Hello dirty mirror ]

+ Circus jacket: I bought this jacket to wear over my teeny tiny outfit at The Dirty Show a few weeks ago. It has buttons down the front and a little peplum action in the back and reminds me of the jacket a ring master would wear. I’d never worn it out before, but it was perfect for drinks and dancing on Sat.

+ Bacon dance: Pants may have been so excited about buying bacon that he did a little dance in the middle of the grocery store. Maybe. I may have also photographed him wearing my cupcake apron (which I forced upon him) that I will reserve in case I need to blackmail him at some point. #barf

+ B3 Lunch Date: Mae and I met up for Cuban food at Cafe Habana and some much needed bestie time. She counseled me on makeup and all things San Diego. So sad Mandy couldn’t make it, but we have already scheduled another date before she leaves for LA.

+ Dance Party: I finally managed to get Gravy to put down work for her masters for a night and leave the house. We headed to the Temple Bar for the monthly dance party, Haute to Death. It was packed with awkward dance moves and bad vintage and it was awesome! Per usual, we had an enthusiastic Rancid sing-a-long on the ride home.

+ Booking our trip to Vegas: I AM SO EXCITED! We’re staying in a fancy hotel, seeing my favorite favorite band ever (the Descendents) and going to two Cirque shows! I’m in serious need of a vacation and I’ve never been to Vegas (actually I’ve never been west of Chicago >_<) so I cannot wait!

Also…epic chili, rocking a sparkly purple lucha libre mask, mis pantalones dulce de regresar de México, 2/$6 Ben and Jerry’s – we spazzed and bought a bunch of new flavors, Real Housewives, night time thunder storms, working on new designs, serenading Pants with terrible pop music, cleaning house, finally doing my taxes, finally being warm enough to wearing my ’80s rocker boots, buds on the trees, puppy bath time, and getting caught in the rain.

[ Jenn, B-day boy Dunner, and I ]

There were so many thing I loved about this weekend, it was truly one of my favorites so far this year :) I’ve been feeling pretty damn lucky lately from spending lots of time with my besties, hamming it up on stage to a cheering audience, and hanging out with someone who’s kinda totally awesome.

Friday was the Dirty Show. It was our third night on stage and we were really comfortable, had a ton of energy and hit every trick perfectly. My coworkers even came out to cheer me on. After the show Lyle and I had girl talk on the way to the Park Bar. We stayed for one drink and then around midnight took the party next door to Cliff Bells for a very late dinner. I had goat cheese gnocchi and a bite of the best mac and cheese ever while listening to the jazz musicians on stage. It was my first time there and that place has a seriously magical ambiance.

Saturday I spent the morning working on sites and then went on a cleaning rampage scrubbing everything from the kitchen sink to the dog. After another exhilarating Dirty Show performance I met up with a cuteface and headed to Whiskey in the Jar to celebrate Numbah One Dunnah’s 30th birthday. They had loaded the jukebox with metal and there was lots of drunken singing on the part of the birthday boy – I’d expect nothing less! For last call we hopped over to the Magic Stick and hung out with Royce for a bit. Royce and I had an awkward 7th grade-style slow dance and I serenaded the cuteface with Katy Perry.

Sunday, well Sunday was fantastic, but I’ll be keeping most of that to myself ;) It began with a pleasantly early morning, a coffee run, and brunch at Mae’s (the restaurant, not the blogger). Then home to work work work, a break to watch Gossip Girl, and then more work.

I only managed to take one photo the whole weekend, but as a blogger that’s probably the best test of a good time. When you’re having so much fun and are so in the moment you don’t even remember to document what’s going on.

Jenn and I went out for dinner last night, then hopped over to the bar next door for Swedish fish vodka and old school Batman. Crikey! A little trivia – I get to see the original Batmobile every day when I go to work. The dude that owns the building next to the station bought it. Crazy right? I though it was just a butt ugly car until I was informed I was hating on a piece of comic history.

I wore a sweater from a recent F21 shopping spree. It’s not a silhouette I’d usually buy, but I love how it fits and it even shows a little tattoo.

And I have to show off the best birthday prezzie EVER! Edward is now chillin’ on my mantle.

[ An outfit that didn't make the cut ]

I settled on black & white stripes with red, which was the vision I had, but had totally missed the mark with the outfit I ordered online.

After my performance outfit was settled, we met up with my parents for dinner at Bastone and had amazing pizza with mushrooms, goat cheese and truffle oil. When we were sufficiently stuffed I dropped Kate off to work at the street fair and then met up with Jenn again to walk over ourselves.

I somehow managed to have a crazy fun night without spending a dollar. I made gin and juice for Jenn and I to take to the street fair, got handed a couple beer tickets and then the beer-pourers ended up being so drunk themselves they stopped noticing if we handed over tickets or not.

We decided, due to the massive crowd, it was the perfect time for a musical moment and breaking out into song. We got our wish when The Silent Years led everyone in a 4 Non Blondes sing-a-long. We hung out with my sister at her post on the outskirts of the fair, bringing her beer and keeping her and the passersby entertained. I managed to drunk text someone and scored a date – with only one spelling error I might add! I saw some old friends and met a few new ones. And at the end of the night, everyone piled into the Loving Touch and The Summer Pledge brought down the house. We were all crammed around the tiny stage, arms in the air, clapping and singing.

Around 1 or 2 Kate and I stumbled home, the streets empty of booths and fair-goers, my feet aching and so ready for sleep.