Big Girl Boots

We're squeezed into an over crowded bar, dead center with people packed in like ground meat in a casing all around us. Our group has taken up a fair share of the bar, so in my efforts to get a drink, I have to alternate with hugs and kiss hellos. Oh and it's hot as hell, if hell was sitting in the kitchen with my mother as she attempted to cook.

Good thing I'm not wearing much! We get to the bar where a branch of our group has secured a window, currently they are ordering shots of Grand Manier ::burns so good:: A couple of guys eye us up and hand us shots.

"Don't waste these."
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to handle it, a smirk reaches the corner of my lips.

We take the shots, that were really like double shots, without even a little wince. The original guy looks to me and says

"Whoa! You took that like a big girl"
Uh huh.
I narrow my eyes at him to gauge his doubt, while he sizes me up. My outfit tonight is pretty casual, layered tank tops, (Black and White) black tights and black knee high boots. His eyes get to my boots and widen...

"No wonder! Look at those boots!"
Yup, my big girl boots.
"Damn! Just tell me what's the cut and color you want?"

C and I catch eyes across the crowded bar, both knowing it's time to move on. This is our second stop of the night, we started at Mate in Georgetown for Organic Cucumber Mojitos in honor of Earth Hour. This small bar appearance was for a birthday, moving across town to see another birthday girl, this particular party is a green party. Finally making our way out of the bar, we run into more friends outside, I give them a outline of the night ahead and we hop into the car.

We arrive at Senso, Senso...not my fav place on 18th street. It always has the strangest smell...like day old-dirty recliner-sex ::come on, you know the smell:: As we walk through the door my eyes go to the back balcony, of which I see the girls dangling from. We make our way through another crowded room and climb the stairs into a very warm loft, filled with girls in green, a couple large fans, a small bar with the worlds slowest bartender...ever. As this is our third stop of the night we jump right in to the dance party. Round of birthday shot, a few photo ops, and a we're putting our jackets on again. This time the expected right up the street party has moved a few blocks away.
Once outside we're trying to map out the best way to pick up a couple more girls and make it to the next stop in a timely manner. All this planning is broken up when I here my name being screamed across six lanes of traffic. Followed by a flurry of text, friends at a club across the street are outside and want in. I make a mad dash, while sending my text , by the time I get across the street, they are being ushered inside and geared up with bracelets. I'm tempted to come in for a quick drink and say hi, but we've got a tight schedule as it is. Just when I'm hugging hellos, the car pulls up friends already inside and we're off the 14th street.
We make it to The Park and the party is in full force by this point the birthday boy is dancing all over the place, pouring Champagne on everyone and buying round after round of shots. I've danced so much tonight, there is no need for exercise for another couple of days! But I find myself and C three drinks in and dancing our asses off! Per our usual I'm fighting guys off of her and telling them that she is my bitch, we laugh as the walk away utterly confused wondering if we really are lesbians ::ftr I like boys::
The DJ plays every song I love, so I've just got no other option than to dance until my legs are jelly. We're laughing at how tired we are by the end of the night and amazed that we are still able to have a conversation after the night we'd just had.
Our night ends like so many good one, C and I are walking down the sidewalk linked arm in arm, laughing uncontrollably. We're also content. That alone makes the night, to see all these people, go so many places and be utterly content at the end of the night.
I love this city.
-n

Grande Tree with No Foam

I stand in my Starbucks behind a gentleman, late fifties to early sixties. He orders his hot beverage with room. As he waits, he picks up a travel mug, it is green with writing all over it. He angles it towards the cashier and says
'Whats all this nonsense on here?'
She replies, That is 'Green' travel mug, the writing is telling you how much recyclable material was used to make it.
'Why would you walk around with all this on your cup?'
His voice has raised a little, he puts the cup down, shakes his head and looks to me as I step up to order my drink. Before the words leave my mouth the cashier recognizes me and fills in the order for me, then she reaches out her hand. I hand her my travel mug, the very green, very re-usable, the very same mug the gentleman had just had in his hand.
I look him in the eyes and saw an internal struggle of what to say, stick to his point or not. Nothing came out of his mouth, so I offered
I proudly walk around with this cup, I have the whole set, and I tell everyone who ask me about it. I also save ten cents every time I bring my cup with me and the cost of paper cup, paper holder, plastic top.
Do you have grandchildren?
'Yes, of course.' Slight defense in his voice now.
Do you want their grandchildren to have trees? Because while you've grown up with trees and your children have, there are children who might not if we continue on this path.
We're not hippies, or tree huggers, we're all trying to do our little part to conserve. That's all.
The attention of the line is on us both now, and I don't mind nor do I feel bad for this old soul. He looks to me, nods his head and says
' Maybe I'll bring in my black mug.'
With that he turns and walks away, I pay the cashier and move to the waiting area. While he puts cream and sugar in his coffee, I take the opportunity to tell the barista all about my sat night plans for Earth Hour. She is excited and tells me she wants to join and I give her the web address, I think he listened in as well.
Earth Hour is a great cause, but really it's about conservation all the time, every little bit helps.
So turn off your lights this Saturday from 8:30 - 9:30pm, I'm sure you can figure out something to do with an hour of darkness. I've gotten business all around the DC are to offer support, let's do this together. I'll be drinking organic martinis if you were wondering!
-n