Future Rock Star

saturday adam and i went to one of the frequent BBQ/drunkfests with the rest of his platoon & friends. we picked up a couple tubs of potato salad, a case of budweiser, and got there right as everyone started showing up. there was a pretty big turnout and i got to see everyone again (finally). it seems like everyone is leaving soon. well, they pretty much are. 2 couples we were close with just moved back home and now 3 of the guys in adam’s platoon that are pretty much his best friends here are getting stationed on the other side of the country. it’s sad because now there really won’t be anyone left from the old crowd that we all started out with. as much as i’ve wanted to strangle some of his buddies at one time or another, i can’t help but love ’em to death. they feel like family.

[![](http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768294_939.jpg)](http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768294_939.jpg "adam, me, & eric")
so needless to say, it was nice to have another big get together yesterday with everyone that’s still here. i’m glad everyone made it. :happy: enough with the mushiness, i know.
[![](http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768293_2132.jpg)](http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768293_2132.jpg "group shot")
[![](http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768344_820.jpg)](http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768344_820.jpg "feasting on crawdads")
anyway, it was a lot of fun. there was no drama. there was a TON of food (10 lbs of hamburger meat, brats, hotdogs, CRAWDADS!!, enough potato salad to feed the whole battalion) and even more beer. kristine and her husband brought their 2 little hellions ( :wink: i mean that in the nicest way possible) and another guy brought his daughter. and since our friend carly has been gone, it seems they’ve taken a liking to me for the time being. i learned chasing 6 year olds is not for wussies. also, i’m glad i remembered my inhaler. i made adam run in the house and get it for me because i thought i was going to pass out. they do the whole “you can’t catch me!” scheme and who can turn down a challenge to a 6 year old? then i really would be a wimp. that and they kept slapping me with weeds and that crap hurts after a while. i’ve got all these little cuts.
[![](http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768338_3524.jpg)](http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768338_3524.jpg "alex and me")
[![](http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768349_7937.jpg)](http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768349_7937.jpg "i <3 beating up little kids")< center>adam and one other guy thought it would be a good idea to barbecue a frog at some point during the night and one of the kids happened to witness it. i think he’s scarred for life. he actually likes animals, and prefers them alive.
[![](http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768291_3637.jpg)](http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768291_3637.jpg "poor frog... and poor alex, lol")
[![](http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768342_8043.jpg)](http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768342_8043.jpg "and... more crawdads")
[![](http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768345_2168.jpg)](http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v207/30/75/29700336/n29700336_34768345_2168.jpg "and... even more crawdads")
we stuffed our faces up until the point when jennings said we should go to the bar. so we did.

i’d never been to this bar before and it turns out it’s right across the street from where i work. i had no idea it was there until i passed it walking to lunch this week. and i don’t think i’ll be going there ever again for a few reasons…

reason #1: it’s super freaking expensive. domestic beers were cheap so i bought adam and i a couple beers when we first got there. there was a $5 cover charge for everyone. i went to buy a shot of jack and asked the bartender how much it costs–$6. whiskey sours were even more. i was like are you kidding me? last time i bought a whiskey sour or even a shot of jack in this town it was not more than $4.

reason #2: drinking gives me a lot of guts, evidently. at one point in the night i had wandered off and was next to the stage singing “sweet caroline” at the top of my lungs. oh, and charlie daniel’s band. then adam said he remembered thinking “where did whitney go??” and he looked up and there i was. on stage. PLAYING THE DRUMS WITH THE DRUMMER. the one point during the night i wish like hell someone i knew had a camera on them, no one did. i would never imagine myself getting the guts to do that but i did and i just wish i knew how goofy i looked standing up there flailing drumsticks around. rock band on medium does not equal real drum skills. i don’t even remember what song i “played”.

reason #3: after my debut, i proceeded to snag his sweet cowboy hat and told adam we needed to get out the door as quick as possible. and that was that. i hope i never cross paths with them again. i mean, it is a pretty sweet hat.

so that was this weekend. sunday was spent recovering and going to see the 8:30 showing of the dark knight. if you haven’t seen it, go!! i am not exaggerating when i say it’s the best movie we’ve seen all year. it was hard to watch heath ledger play such a sinister role when he died right after it, but damn he’s funny. awesome movie.

i’m going to go finish cleaning. adam’s feet are all blistered and swollen because of their ridiculous amount of road marches in the last 2 weeks so i’ve been taking care of him and as a result, i’ve been taking less care of the apartment. between the animals and the military, it seriously needs cleaning up. oh and i cooked a freaking sweet dinner tonight–baked tilapia with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and bread crumbs, spicy red beans and rice, and salads. so good. i was proud. :blush: ok, ok! i’m done.