Runnin' Around: Witch with a B

No music. Yup, that's right, I went for a run without music. It was a very strange experience. First of all, I moved at about half speed. Secondly, I was very aware of my surroundings and even felt a little awkward running by people. Was it obvious to everyone that I was running for exercise and not just running for the sake of running to get somewhere? Me so nakey without headphones.

Anyway, I took careful notice of the people on the streets and to put it delicately, there are some unique people in this world. I had this same thought in Penn Station yesterday. Except, who am I to call the girl that looks like she hasn't showered in a week or the grown man with a bright orange backpack and dress pants hemmed up to his ankles unique? Especially when the first thing I look for on them is whether or not they have a wedding band on their left ring finger. Is that not one of the most shallow things you've ever heard? Think how I feel, I'm the one who said it! Honestly though, I look for the rings to see if there is someone out there who declared to the world that despite his ankle length pants she loves him until the end of the time. Not to say that if the person in question isn't loved if he or she isn't married but still, I feel better knowing for sure that someone loves her despite her greasy hair. In a society so focused on appearance, what the heck did those people on the street think when they saw me run by? I could care less but I was thinking about it yesterday and today because coming back to DC means coming back to "The DC Christie."

Last week, a friend commented on how happy I am while I'm working at Rhino and my overall persona the last three months. She remarked on how I carry myself as such a fun, strong, positive, upbeat, and friendly person. She jokingly followed it up by asking: "Aren't you exhausted?" YES, good God, YES. Being happy is fantastic and I've loved it but I'm taking a break for a few days.

Example A: Over the weekend, I ripped into a friend, excuse me I mean ex-friend, via BBM. No more Miss Nicey Pants. Don't get me wrong, this person deserved it and it was a long time coming but it felt great to let out some rage. Rage that's been bottled up inside from week after week of: "Yes, of course, let me pick up those half eaten wings you dropped on the floor and bring you 3 more pitchers of beer while I'm at it....no fricken problem."

Example B: I let my professor who has pissed me off all semester have it this morning. He dared to question my PSU term paper topic. I fought back the lump in my throat and the tears welling behind my eyes and it came out as straight frustration. (Poor Prof Mashi. I told him I'm exhausted and apologized for getting so excited. We talked it out, he's chill.)

When and how is it socially acceptable to be a witch with a b? I don't always want to be strong and happy. I finally let it go and allowed myself to "witch it out" at my friend, let myself be vulnerable, even a little sad, and a whole lotta frustrated with my professor and I gotta say, I feel relieved. I just asked you when and how it's okay to do all of that? For me, it's for the next 2 days in DC. I don't feel like being nice for a day or two, so pick up your own g.d. wings. What I'm saying is let it go every now and then because it feels good. I'm choosing to believe that it's totally acceptable for a person to take a short vacay from her usual persona.

The Queen B: Lily Allen.

"Not Fair"

"The Fear"

Her ability to bitch it out without actually being a bitch is incredible. The combination of her wit, her charm, her lyrics, and her videos is genius.

Anyway, this started because I ran today for the first time in days. My butt should be back to normal size already, right? Let's check. (Checking myself out right now) Hmm, k so see ya for Detox Day 2 tomorrow. Ugh.

Weekend Warrior: Veni, Vidi, VINCI!

Thanksgiving Break 2010: I came, I saw, IT conquered.

I just finished my gazillionth piece of pie and holy cannoli GIVE ME LETTUCE! If I don't get out now the results could be disastrous. I ate, drank, and shopped my way through the last 5 days but there is seriously only so much fun a person can handle in such a short span of time...I'm just one kid for goodness sake! I'm glad I didn't come home at all before now because I could appreciate every second I spent here. I saw my family, my friends, my Luc, my Sona, my couch, my bed, my shower, and my car.

Friday: Two words...Cafe Patron. My neighbor is a godsend and brought a fresh new bottle over the house to our "The Friday After Thanksgiving Gathering." It was quite the gathering might I add. I saw my Sammy girl, mahh Shiiiirl, ate too much of mom's pasta fagioli, oh and witnessed Andrea and my mother booty shaking it to PCD. Laur picked me up just in time to go to Sona, we saw Jeff at the door, and waltzed inside. Lemon drops with Rocky, SoCo limes with Drew, thumbs up dancing to MJ, and a cat fight between us and some silly girl who tried (and failed miserably) to get awwlll up in our faces made this a wonderful New Jersey Friday night with my main squeeze, Lauren Ann. We never want the night to end and we never want to leave when the bar closes which results in the bouncers literally picking us up and carrying us out the g.d. door.

Bouncer: Oh it's you girls again? Every night with these two! (shakes head)
Us: Puuhhhleeeaaassseee let us stay, come on!! (They love to hate us)

I like to dance all night, summons the day

But that's how I play, yeah that's how I play

I said who are you? Don't matter who you are

So we dance all night and dance all day

...Gonna show this town how to kiss the stars

Manhattan by Kings of Leon

We stood outside and talked to them through the window for a little bit until we noticed that they were eating NONNA'S PIZZA without us. Fools. Andrew is our best friend, not yours. We left.

Saturday: Gab's Birthday Bash! OW OW! City city bang bang!

So let's put it this way....I spent most of today with my dress from last night on under my sweatpants. The events that lead up to my very productive day today: Last night a little RBV action in the streeetch Hummer limo, a whole lotta fist pumping and "wiggling" at Crimson, champagne on an NYC balcony, and a Town Car ride back to Morristown this morning. Morristown? Christie, why did you take the car to Morristown when you live in Flo Po? Well, I'll tell ya. The Morning After Show.

Man in Audi: "Excuse me, are you looking for a girl in a black dress?"

Drew: "Yeah I am actually."

Man in Audi: "Oh she's walked up to about the 3rd floor already!"

(Making a scene in Drew's parking garage...the usual)

It is arguable that Lauren, Andrew, and I have more fun the morning after the big night out. We're like 5 year old children laughing, carrying-on, re-living the previous night, but mostly talking complete and utter nonsense. I swear we don't talk about anything that makes sense but it's the most fun couple of hours. I couldn't miss it knowing that it's back to school tomorrow.

Speaking of back to school, I had to cross a few final things off the Jersey To Do List today:

1. See the birthday girl, Gabadoooo, one last time before I leave

2. Have a veg day in the living room including Home Alone 2

3. Go to Nonna's aka HEAVEN

4. Three-way bbm conference with Kanye and Jay-Z (L and A) about how much we love each other

5. Eat more pie

Thanksgiving Break, you really did it to me this time. I'm spent. Drew: "Ok, you guys have to go back to school. I need to sleeeeep." Rest up, Icy Ice! Winter break is only a few weeks away! Until then, I'll be very happy going back to school with my North Face smellin' like Grandma Pie from Nonna's.

We R Who We R by Ke$ha

See ya in the District!

"Her heart is as BIG as her buhhbbies" - Dina Manzo

"And after 3 days of drinking with Larry Love
I just get an inklin' to go on home" - Alabama3

Driving up the Turnpike on the bus, this kept popping into my head.

The song alone...I mean come on, 'nuff said.

Let's check some stuff off the "Jersey To Do List", shall we?
1. Eat at Godfather's - grilled chicken over broccoli rabe and wine
2. Wake up to a missed call & bbm from Lauren - she's in the driveway with CDs
3. Go to Restaurant Depot with Drew - assembly line style shopping
4. Hug and vent with Tanya Banya at Nonna's
5. Go tanning in Caldwell
5a. Get made fun of for going tanning in Caldwell
6. Celebrate Thanksgiving Eve with the BEST PEOPLE EVER
7. Eat at Nonna's
8. Make CDs for the limo ride to NYC with the BEST PEOPLE EVER
9. Work out at Lifetime...........big question mark next to that one!
10. Etc, etc, etc.

 Restaurant Depot: "Hey, you got that veal in the back? 1 case, gimme 1 case"

Safe to say I've switched gears and kicked it in high Jersey Mode. What's Jersey Mode? Well I talk to Lauren at least 5 times a day, I listen to Hot 97.1 in the car, I pump my fists, and eat real meals. It's amazing how life falls right back into place. BeeTeeDubs, what a luxury it is to drive. I drove around for awhile feeling like "I believe I can flyyy, I believe I can touch the sky." Liberating beyond belief.

Anyway, "Let me tell you something about my family, we're thick as thieves

and we protect each other to the end" - Caroline, Real Housewives of NJ

The food, the drinks, the family and friends....STATUS: Hung over and happy :-) Last night at Sona the crew reunited. Magical, I tell ya, just magical. Laur, Gab, Drew, Beth, TA, everyone and their mothers from Morris, Union, and Essex counties. "Oh my GAWD, hiiiii! How are you? It's so good to see you!" The amount of times I said that last night equaled about the amount of shots we took. Best part: I was genuinely happy to see everyone and I genuinely enjoyed the vodka. There's something to be said for going back where ya came from. Everyone tawlks the same, dresses the same, drives the same, drinks cawfee the same, dances the same...we understand each other in a way that non-Jerseyians could never understand. I mean if I start walking around singing "It's T-Shiiiirrt Time, T-Shiiiirrttt Time...CABS HEEEEERE", everyone here gets it and knows exactly what I mean (except maybe Lauren...oooo this is awkward). It's a great feeling. Don't get me wrong, I love standing out in DC for my Jersey habits but acceptance is a wonderful thing.

The night was pretty perfect. SoCo Lime shots, Drew did the wiggle, we danced to Michael Jackson, found Abs...and rubbed them obvs, and took tons of pictures.

Sona is where the <3 is.

Now all I have to do is finish off the rest of that to do list, hunt down that Sammy girl, and do everything I can to make it out of this weekend alive!

"No excuses, play like a champion."

DJ CFabb: BoltBus Beats

OFFICIAL NOTICE to MIKE FLO:

This Post Is Not A Waste Of Your Time. I Repeat, Not A Waste Of Your Time. ;-)

Who: Me

What: Going home

When: TODAY

Where: DC to NJ

How: The Boltbus

Why: THANKSGIVING BREAK!!

Why it matters to you? GREAT excuse for a NEW playlist! Here's a sample of what I'll be jamming to/trying very very hard to not sing out loud on the bus....

1. Take Off Your Sunglasses by Ezra Furman & the Harpoons

2. Moment 4 Life by Nicki Minaj and Drake

3. World Spins Madly On by The Weepies

4. Pursuit of Happiness (Cover) by Lissie

5. Hold My Hand by Akon and Michael Jackson

6. Block After Block by Matt & Kim

7. S&M by Rihanna

8. North By North by Faded Paper Figures

9. Cannibal by Ke$ha

10. Stereo Love by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina

See ya in the Garden State!

Weekend Warrior: "I'm like ohh Kemosabe" ~ Usher

Power nap in the cab on the way out on Friday? ...Yup, that happened.

One of my housemates told me recently that I am a creature of habit.  She was referring to the fact that I am committed to having a bag of popcorn before I go to sleep every night, however, in this case I'm referring to my weekends.

Friday: Sign of the Whale. My favorite beyond favorite spot on a Friday night. And this past Friday...PSU ALUMNI PARTY! Awwww yeahh baby! Megs and I got to The Whale just in time to see the Blue Band playing outside the bar: "Heyyyyy heyyyyy baby OOOO AHHHH, I wanna knowww if you'll be my girl." Yay, excitement, dancing, loving it. HOLD UP, MINOR SET BACK: ya gotta be on the damn alumni list to get it. WAY AROUND IT: Oscar or Trey, someone needs to come get us. PROBLEM: too busy for them to come out from behind the bar.  ..... SOLUTION: The Mighty Pint a few doors down.

Well heyyrrooo adorable bartender! I don't know who you are but I will be back to see you. And that's all I have to say about that. Anyway, "The Pint", as it's commonly referred to, was packed with PSU spill over from The Whale. We got some beers and contemplated killing everyone around us ordering cheese fries and and nachos (Brats! Didn't these people know we ate lettuce for dinner?!). The more we walked around the bar, I recognized the bartenders here too...Gus and Courtney! I'm glad we went there because I found yet another bar that I enjoy. The best way to describe The Pint is cozy. Low key, country music, games on, and plenty of beer and wings. Maybe it was my bias to the PSU crowd ("Meg, I even have my PSU undies on!" .. "You own PSU undies?! Freak.") or what but I really liked the energy. It was casual and laid back but clean and non-dive bar-ish. I think the sophisticated feeling also came from the amount of people in suits there. It was early so some PSU-ers must have come from work. Anywhoooo, go see Courtney and tell him I say hello but stay away from no named cute bartender, k thanks.

As soon as the private party was over, Meghan and I were the first two outsiders at The Whale. I absolutely love everything about Sign of the Whale on Friday nights. One of the bartenders "No Fun Joe" or as I affectionately call him "The MOST FUN Joe" sees me and says: "Oh it's YOU again, here we go!" Oscar: "What?! You've been here like 4 times and everyone knows you?! Remember who brought you here!" Well Oscar, I can't thank you enough. Where do I even begin? I like that I can get dressed up to go there but can still throw my hands up in the air, be ridiculous, and it's completely acceptable. And of course it helps that bartenders Oscar, Misty, and Trey take good care of me and my friends. Some of my Penn State regulars from Rhino were there, including Simon & Rich, and I even met a few completely new fans. YAY YAY YAY. Am I expressing enough how in love with Friday night I am? And like all creatures of habit, I ended up at Rhino for a late night dance party and "omg hiiii" sesh with the usuals. Fab.

 

Simon doesn't know his own strength.

He "CHEERS"-ed a little too hard & broke my drink!

My response if it had happened on Saturday: "NOT up in here! Not up in here!"

(little insider with B.Ryan) Shout out to the last PSU game day this year.

Saturday: How does one blog about a person that she doesn't know that well and make it not creepy and weird because there is a possibility that he could read this? Let's see if I can pull this off. I think I'll start by giving him a codename: Philly.

Meghan and Christie met Philly and Philly's friend at The Whale on Friday night and they all planned to meet up at Madhatter on Saturday night. Meghan and Christie get there to find an insanely long line. No big. Randomly, a bouncer comes to the end of the line and asks M & C to follow him. (Side door entrance, biotches.) Even though the bar was PACKED, it was a great night. Good service, good music, good company. However, Philly challenged Christie to a game of Connect Four and she was defeated. This will never happen again, she will be practicing.

Well the time came to call it a night, we said our goodbyes, and left. Now, someone please tell me why there is a SERIOUS lack of cabs in the city of Washington, DC?! 3AM, middle of busy Dupont Circle and it takes us 20 minutes and strategic positioning around groups of people before we could finally get a cab home. Ree-DONK-you-lous. Get it together, DC.

My weekend concluded with a marathon day of work at Rhino on Sunday. 11AM- 11:30PM. My fun-filled, workaholic lifestyle finally caught up with me. I felt sick all day so Nick made me a Hot Toddy. Did anyone else not know that Hot Toddy is actually a drink and not just an Usher song?! It's hot tea, whiskey, honey, and lemon. It felt wonderful going down my very sore throat.

 Now I gotta rest up and pack!

Dirtaaay Jerzaaaay tomorrow! First time ALL YEAR. :-)

Check back tomorrow for a sample of the "HOME" playlist.

Thirsty Thursday: "The pumps are in the bag!" ~ Meg Fishburn

Bright idea: "Meghan, I got an email about a new bar/restaurant that opened up on H Street in NE, it's called The Atlas Room. It looks really nice, let's try it."

Mmkay. So, to save some dolla dolla bills we took public transportation, at least on the way out there. We missed the GUTS bus (Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle) to Rosslyn Metro Station by 2 minutes...waited 15 minutes for the next one. Got to Rosslyn and missed the orange line by 1 MINUTE...waited 20 minutes for the next one. Sat on the metro for a half hour, got out at Minnesota Ave and well Toto, we were certainly not in Kansas no mo'! We took the long way. The really long way. We got our "what the heck are you two doing in these parts" butts in a cab and dropped off at the corner of 11th and H. The street was empty, a snerious ghost town.

Me: "Who's idea was this?? GEEEEZ, FISH!"

Ha! God bless her for constantly putting up with me.

Finally, we find The Atlas Room. There's not a single person in there. Awesome. Meg: "We trekked all the way out here, we're getting a damn drink, let's go!" Now, you tell me if this isn't SO WEIRD...it's obvious that the two men sitting at the bar are the owners, Matt and Bobby, (great guys by the way) but UM HI WEIRD, the service manager = Mark! For those of you who don't know, I know Mark from Rhino and Serendipity in Georgetown. Just focus on the coincidence of all of this. I rarely leave NW, I never would have gone to this bar if it weren't for this blog, we almost didn't walk through the door, but thankfully it was a hassle getting there so we did anyway, and then to top it all off, I know the general manager! Word.

"Big Ice" aka Chris the bartender, made us two Mai Tais. Hands down the best Mai Tai I've ever had and Meghan's first (I think she fell in love). "Big Ice" has been bartending for years and makes a smooth drink. He believes bartending is a form of art, trust me you won't be disappointed. I didn't get a chance to try out the food but after talking with these guys, I'm on Mission: Promote The Atlas Room. Despite it being empty (mind you, because of our struggles, it was almost midnight by the time we got there) we were told there was a full house for dinner. All types of people, from 20 something girls to H Street locals. From what I could tell, it was the swankiest looking place on H Street and "I think you got a lot of potential Kit De Luca."

I see this place as a classy pre-game. Go here for a bottle of wine and some appetizers, top it off with a Mai Tai and then move on to other late night spots. Spots on H Street that I will be exploring and will obvs report back.

The next and final stop: McFadden's (Enough adventure for one night, back to comfort zone). It was a sloppy mess of GWU seniors and fist pumping cowboys? Who knows what that was about! Trey bartends in the corner somewhat tucked away from the madness. We chatted with him, had peanut butter & jelly shots, and called it a night.

It was a fun little night and really got me thinking. While talking to the guys at The Atlas Room they asked me if I'd be moving back home after graduation. I truly have no clue what I'm going to do in May but I can't help but appreciate the network I've developed in this city. For someone who wants to work in hospitality and own a bar, I've got connections here. A few weeks ago I went to McFadden's with Kelsie for the first time and as I'm saying hello to Trey I hear her say: "Is there a bar in this city that you don't know everyone?!" It's a pretty wonderful thing. At home in small town NJ, I know people at Sona and that's the extent of my network. In all of Washington, DC, I'm extending my network every week. So should I leave it? Should I move back home? I probably will for a little while but who knows. The point is that I don't know where life will take me but what I do know is that it treats me really well in DC.

What would a post be without a song?

"Up All Night" by Alex Clare (produced by Diplo & Switch)

Happy Friday!

Weekend Warrior: "WE ARE NOT NORMAL" ~ Deon Butler

I heard this yesterday:

"it's been said that we just don't recognize the 

significant moments of our lives while they're happening"

For the most part, I'd say that I agree. However, this school year has been and will continue to be one of the most significant periods of time in my life and I am FULLY RECOGNIZING IT! One BIG reason: WE ARE! PENN STATE! .... Saaayyy whaaat?! Georgetown, Christie, helloooo you go to Georgetown. I know I know, but every Saturday I am a "Rhinoette": a Penn State football game day waitress at Rhino.

How I adore the "BLUE ONLY" second floor of the bar. The usual suspects arrive early and the wisecracks, beatings, and car bombs begin! (Wisecracks, beatings, car bombs, OH MY!) Although we're all severely hung over (I don't drink, ever.) and in pain over the early start, I secretly adore this part of the day.  It's like a playground. The boys tease the girls about our less than respectable decisions the night before, we retaliate by throwing punches (very ladylike, I know), followed by Oscar yelling choice expletives and putting Brittany and me in a double headlock. So much love. We swap stories, joke around, and get those regular customers intoxicated with beer and happiness.

Then it's GAME TIME. "Ohhh ohhhh ohhh LET'S GO STATE!" The norms: hot wing sauce stains on my shorts, beer on my shoes, a few bruises, a couple of love taps, and a drunken rendition of "Scotty Doesn't Know" at half time. Cheers for Joe Pa, boos for Ohio State, and at some point an empty beer pitcher is used for: "dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun P dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun S dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun U"

Hi, my name is Christie, and I'm a Saturdayaholic.

These days pulled me out of my funk and changed my life forever. Just about every "Saturday night was the greatest night of my life" experience started at Rhino with these people and ventured on from there. They reminded me that there are fabulously, wonderful, caring, and funny people in DC who love me. The Crew: Brittany, Oscar, Misty, Porter, JC, George & more / The Amazing Regulars: you know who you are, made it absolutely impossible for me to ever be unhappy and I love them for that. They don't even know the impact that they had on me this fall but I think that makes it even better.

As immature and silly as this job can be, I've actually managed to grow more mature. I have confidence. I can set a rude customer straight, I can sell our products, I know how to build relationships, and I can walk into any chaotic, restaurant environment and know that I can handle it. Without Saturday mornings, I never would have been able to take the bull by the horns and bartend last weekend.

I'm bringing this up now because PANG, a wave of depression hits every time I think about the season ending. It's all I can think about this week (I'm writing a term paper for Sports & Society on the social implications of PSU Football). This weekend, PSU plays at FedEx Field so everyone is going to the game (someone tell Dave to let Brittany and me go! haha) Next weekend, I'm in Jersey for Thanksgiving. And that's all, folks! I'll miss every second of Saturday mornings that extended into long Saturday nights.

I just cried a little. Is that weird? Sweet Jesus, I'm my father's daughter.

Chicken Soup for the Soul by Sassarella: really really really try to recognize the significant moments in life as they happen. I am thankful that whenever I think back on my senior fall, I will remember being so happy it almost feels fake. The best part though: I've never felt more ALiVE.

Dr. Phil Sassarella: No matter the environment, if you can find a job you love, then 95% of the time it won't feel like work. Figure out what you want and DO IT. I will own a bar one day and you all get an invite to the grand opening! Anyone else have a job they love? I'm going to need suggestions for when football season is official over (GASP! Don't even say it, Christine!) I promise I'm done venting. Seriously though, WE ARE NOT NORMAL WE ARE PENN STATE. Ok...now I'm really done.

DJ CFabb: "And I'm Talking More Everyday" ~ M & K

Every Wednesday, I wake up hoping that it won't be as brutal as last Wednesday, oh but then it is! Ugh. I have class ALL DAY, literally 6 hours straight and then I get to go to work ALL NIGHT. Pity party of 1!

So while I'm confined to the classroom all day, wherever you are, do a dance for me to this song. Seriously, try to not move to it, it's impossible! I think my favorite part is about 5 seconds into it when it breaks into this crazy weird energy but still indie beat - it's awesome.  Cameras by Matt & Kim

For the popsters, this song is featured on Good For Girls by The White Panda. Procrast and DJ Griffi remixed "Cameras" with Wale's "Pretty Girls." Sick.

Time to leave the outside world behind for the day.

Send anything potentially distracting my way, I'll love you 4EVER.

R.Patz is a Taurus. Just Saying...

Procrastination.The dictionary should replace its definition with:

procrastination: \ proh-cras-tuh-NAY-shuhn \ noun; 

Georgetown University Lauinger Library, 2nd Floor

I've been sitting here now for a few hours writing a paper.....and by "writing a paper" I mean setting small, achievable goals for myself.  Goals like, "Write another paragraph and then you can check Facebook" or "Finish this page and then you can read another blog/check for new music"...ya know, productive things like that.  I also cleaned out my email accounts.  In the process, I came across a spam email to view my daily horoscope.  (Ohhh the things I will read to avoid doing work).  Anyway, I opened it up.

According to gotohoroscope.com, I should leave you all alone and focus on my personal problems today. Oh well, too bad for you! In continued procrastination, I noticed a link for "Zodiac Sign Compatibility: Find Your Best Match By Means of Astrology".  And since I've just been oh so compatible with the opposite sex recently, I clicked on it.

Results: Stay the heck away from me if you are a Cancer or a Leo, it'll be bad news bears for both of us. We'll be the best of friends if you are an Aquarius. And OH MY, heyyyrrrooooo Mr. Taurus, Mr. Scorpio, and Mr. Pisces!

 

Born: May 13, 1986

Also, Jon Hamm is a Pisces and Leo DiCaprio is a Scorpio.

I mean I'm just sayin...

I thought it would be logical (and a great way to waste more time) to see if other sources showed the same results.  Another site, cafeastrology.com, gives more involved explanations but overall produced the same results.  This time, I looked up specific relationships and with a certain someone there is potential for fabbbulous things! Ow ow! I'm serious, the lil paragraph sums us up perfectly.

Now that's all fan-fricken-tastic but really I can't help but ask myself, is all of it a coincidence? Just another silly way for 20 something girls in search of something meaningful, or possibly not meaningful at all (oh em gee girls just wanna have fun) to make a relationship out of nothing? I don't normally buy into abstract ideas like this but anytime I read about what it means to be a Capricorn it is a pretty accurate description of my personality.  Could the same be true for relationships? What do you think?

I leave you with the song that has been stuck in my head all day.

Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine - watch the video, it's a work of art!

The similarities between the title of this song and the content of this post, 

I know for a fact, is a complete coincidence.

Weekend Warrior: The Big Pour

"I'm on no sleep, NO SLEEP. You don't know what it's like in there. All night long things are creepin and crackin and that red light is burning my brain!" -Seinfeld

FRIDAY: "Oooo she made us drinks to drink, we drunk 'em, got DRUNK" and in this case, T-Pain's lyrics are referring to yours truly! Rhino Bar & Pumphouse bartender right huuurrr! Friday, November 12th, 2010...mark it down as the first night Sassarella bartended ON.HER.OWN. (many thanks to Porter & JC!) Shakin' up some shots, pouring some dranks, and poppin' beer bottles... goodness gracious it's music to my ears. This is just another step towards my goal of opening up a place of my own and I'm so excited! That's fo show. Special shout out to KELSIE ("Look at her, she's soo hott, tip her A LOT, DO IT!), Meghan (the best cheerleader in da world), Sam ("vodka tonic STAT"), and Mary D ("I was trying to study what you were doing, had no idea it was your 1st time!") This is me a few years ago joking around behind the bar... my, how things have changed.

Dave: You wanna bartend tonight?

Me: YES!

Dave: You know how to pour, right?

Me: (makes a pouring hand motion)

Dave: Good enough for me.

SATURDAY: "If you run that fast, I'm gonna give you a gold star, little girl!" What a whack-a-doo is all I have to say about our cab driver.  After nearly running Meghan and me over and telling us a story about a client who pronounced Volta as Bolta (ya know, the Spanish pronunciation) she dropped us off at Kelsie's AMAZING apartment! Now the question was where to go, where to go? The final decision: The Big Hunt in Dupont.  Dive bar, like serious nose dive, but surprisingly upbeat! ("Now, it's a little scary, but mostly upbeat" who can name that movie?) The standard Dupont, little bit artsy, but casual crowd.....and then there's me. Black killer heels and a blazer.  And WOW, 30 fabulous beers on tap! So I'll take a Ketel One, on the rocks, with lemon, please & thank you.  I'm being a weee bit dramatic (like that ever happens, pshh) but I did stick out just a tad.  Despite that, I had a great time and even ran into Bob-O, one of my Washington Apple obsessed Sunday regulars from Rhino. 

Anyway, the decor is pretty awesome.  There are unique posters all over the walls and the place is INSANELY colorful. It would take a very big debbie downer to have a bad time here.  I ordered my Ketel One on the second floor.  The "bar" up there, if you want to call it that, was a one man cubicle and this dude was MOVING. Let me tell you, he certainly gets a workout every Saturday night and he must have the patience of a kindergarten teacher. The dj was playing the standard top 40 hits so people could dance but if my life was filmed and produced by Mark Schwahn (the creator of One Tree Hill) I think Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine would suit this place quite well.  And of course there would be a montage of me, Kels, Megs, her brother + friends, BOB-O, etc dancing around, ordering drinks, living life. I sometimes really wish my life was a tv show simply because the PERFECT song is always playing at the PERFECT moment, don't you?!

"HAPPINESS...hit her like a train on a track" - F+TM

And then Monday comes around and the train derails (ha!)

Thirsty Thursday: "Clean Cup, Clean Cup. MOVE DOWN!"

So it wasn't my thirstiest of Thursdays.  My usual troops were either too busy, too tired, or too cold to go out so I flew solo. I made myself walk the 12 blocks or so to the M Street Wachovia ATM. I needed the exercise but I really just wanted to listen to my ipod instead of getting in a cab right away. Kings of Leon (Radioactive) kept me company (It's in the water / it's in the story / it's where ya came from). Anyway, my final destination was Madhatter on Connecticut Ave in Dupont.

I found a spot at the back corner of the bar and ordered the beer on special, $1 draft Bud Light (pretty good deal if you ask me).  I found myself ease-dropping on the guys standing next to me: "Dude, I'm gonna work on being a MAN tonight, like a real man, and I'm gonna find that girl we saw earlier and talk to her", the next one replied: "Yo dude, I've been working on being a REAL man for the 23 years that I've been on this planet...gotta keep on truckin'" I swear I tried to hold back my laughter but really? Like really? (I'm LOL-ing just thinking about it).  Turns out Dude #2's name is Sean. Naturally, I introduced myself as Kelly from NY.  Sean filled me in on the crowd - a majority of the people were GWU Law School students who competed in some intelligence debate something or other that day. You thinking what I was thinking? Jackpot ;-).

Next up was Aaron: "Like Aaron Carter?!" I asked.  He played dumb, like he didn't know who that was....liar.  This time around, I was Christie from New Jersey.  We talked about law school, football, our mutual aspiration of owning a bar, DC vs. other cities...cool guy.  He got me and his friends the other drink on special....$5 Jager Bombs (in honor of the Jersey Girl, obvs).  Then things got funny because Sean came back: "Hey Kelly!" HAHAHA oops. Aaron looked confused, I needed to evacuate the situation.  Thankfully, by this time Megs had showed up so when Aaron left to use the bathroom we bolted.

 I liked his watch. He liked my boots.

The music was amazing.  A great mix of old and new.  Then I got a look at the DJ and I knew why I was loving it so much. IT WAS MIX MASTER ROD, Oscar's brother! Woot! If you live in DC, he also djs at Rhino and FrontPage....go see him, he's fantastic.

Despite my outfit being a little too downtown Manhattan for this law school crowd, I had a good time and will definitely go back.  $1 beers & Mix Master Rod...'nuff said. Another plus: there was room to breathe. Enough room to escape the Sean & Aaron Debacle, room to dance, and room to talk.  I don't like when people are all up in my grill...back off, kids.

The crowd was a little young for my liking (especially when I overheard the bouncer questioning some girl: "Oh what are you, 18? Let's see this I.D.") but the staff was pleasant and considering most places in GTown are the same way, this was a nice change.

The final "Blog Worthy" event, as Meghan put it, happened in the cab back to Georgetown.  Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" came on the radio, no homo.  I sang my heart out.  At first I thought the driver kept making it louder to drown out my voice but then I realized he was singing louder than I was! I think we made his night....on second thought, he sure as shit made mine.

"Is it too late for an Egg McMuffin?" ~ SNL

DISCLAIMER:I am not an expert in politics.
WARNING:I will never care to engage in a political debate with you. So fuhgeddaboudit.

The year was 2008.  Obama & Oprah were chanting "YES WE CAN", McCain introduced his Mama Grizzly, and I was a sophomore at Georgetown University with very little clue as to what any of it meant.

Peeps: "Wow! Christie! How exciting that you're in Washington, DC during such a monumental time in politics.  Tell me, I'd love to know, as a student at Georgetown, what do you think about the upcoming election? What's the overall feeling on campus? Tell me everything!"
Me: (SHiT. Uhhh uhhh, make up something that sounds intelligent, QUICK!) "Well, Mr. Stranger on the Amtrak Train Home, I think that blahh blahh blahh"

Thankfully, I got tired of being completely ignorant and slowly expanded my political knowledge past Saturday Night Live skits. I mean, let's be serious, not by much but it's better than it ever was.

Back in the day, I had a serious crush on Bill Clinton.  Go ahead, judge me, but I did.  I really like the way my man Bill explains the current US economic situation and his proposed solution.  It's easy to understand and makes a whole lot of sense. If you're like me and need politics to be discussed in plain English in order to give a rat's ass about whatever the hell our leaders yap about then Watch this, you'll feel smarter. 

I can guarantee that posts like this will be few and far between but anything that can hold my attention concerning politics should be acknowledged.  And with it being Veteran's Day there is a very military/political/nationalist feeling about campus today.  So, a special thank you to the vets and to those who currently serve this great nation. You rock!

Bill & I have come a long way from Clinton at McDonald's.

Welp, it's quitting time!  Get smart, show Jon Stewart some love, and T.G.I.T.

Runnin' Around: Mumford & Sons

Running in DC is freedom.  Freedom from school work, freedom from people, freedom from daily crap.  It's my daily breath of fresh air.  Sometimes I pick a new place in the city, like a restaurant, monument, or neighborhood to run to, take a lil looksie, and run back.  Or sometimes I run in the M Street and Wisconsin Avenue areas.  These streets to me are like vodka, they never let me down.

This fall, I'm really digging the neighborhoody streets of Georgetown and Dupont.  Volta, Q, R, P, and Connecticut Ave are where it's at.  The combination of pedestrian-free, tree-filled back roads and the cute coffee shop vibe of a Dupont lunch time is heavenly.  What I love about these streets, and city running in general, is that I rarely need the music to keep me moving.  At the gym, on the tredmill, I need my girl Rihanna and some Urrrrshherr to make it that extra mile.  But on the streets, I can listen to anything.

Today, like most days for the past month or so, I listened to this song at least 6 times over the course of a 40 minute run.

White Blank Page by Mumford & Sons 

Oh this song. Where do I even begin? It has the ability to change my whole day in any direction.  It can make me feel happy, relieved, free, and motivated OR sad, mad, and gloomy (in the best way possible, of course).  If you like that, and I don't know how you couldn't, check out Little Lion Man by Munford & Sons and The Cave by Mumford & Sons.  And if nothing else, HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!

Yummy. Their Bookshop Sessions are pretty amazing too.  Ok, blah blah, I'm done lovin' on Mumford & the boys...for now, at least.  Happy running & promiseee me that you won't ruin these songs by taking them to the g.d. gym! Peace out.

"Take Off Your Sunglasses" ~ Ezra Furman&The Harpoons

CFabb's blog. It's official.
The immediate inspiration for FINALLY starting this is a result of the last 3 hours (oops) that I just spent online finding new music.  I have at least 20 new obsessions and I'm dying to share them with my people.  I'll be posting my current favs here.

To continue...this year has been hectic.  For example, daily phone conversations with my dearest Lauren Ann have dwindled down to once a week, 45 minute, vent sessions where I try to fit in all of the fabulous new details of my life and obvs to hear all of hers.  Here is where I'll be filling in the gaps to keep everyone updated on what's good in da hood.

My mother, aka the goddess, told me I should do this months ago because she thinks I'm funny....or whatever.  But also because going out is my thing.  Be on the look out for restaurant/bar reviews and feedback on happenings in DC, NJ, and wherever else life takes me.

I fell in love with this song all over again tonight. It was hidden somewhere in my itunes and is the motivation for this blog:  listen here and turn it up, people!

"Take off your sunglasses

I don't wanna take off my sunglasses

Take off your sunglasses

I said oh baby that's like me asking you take out your shoelaces

So she took out her shoelaces"

I'm taking off my sunglasses tonight...and my g.d. shoelaces. Welcome and enjoy :-)