The end of 2008, beginning of 2009: an epic

I was just talking to Fae and telling her my stories from the last two days, and she suggested that they were very entertaining and I should write about them. So, in an effort to avoid doing Canadian History (which I'm very good at avoiding), here is the recap of my New Years fun.

Let me preface this by saying that vodka is not my friend, and my 2009 New Year's resolution is not to drink anymore hard liquor.

LMac and I traveled to Toronto for New Year's last year, which most of you know. We had a really good time, especially the getting ready together and drinking wine part. So we decided that we wanted to do something similar this year. Originally, we were going to go back to TO for a party, but we ended up staying in Ottawa. And we traveled to my apartment instead.

I made a great dinner and we started drinking early. At about 5. We thought we'd have some of the Smirnoff Cosmopolitan mix she brought. First ingredient: vodka. Bottle: empty by the end of dinner. We were having a great time talking and eating and drinking. We started into the giant bottle of Wild Vine that I'd bought. Steph phoned and said she was coming over soon, and we realized that it was about 8:30 already. I think. Anyway, whatever time it was, we decided to get ready. Amazingly enough I was still able to put on liquid eyeliner, despite the fact that we'd already finished the bottle of wine between us. Clearly, it was time for beer!

Steph arrived and we all drank more. Called a cab to go to Lindsay's party, eventually left because I thought I'd heard it honk outside. As we're going down the stairs I see one of the girls from Apt 2, who I'd never met, so I pause to say hi.. and fall own the stairs. And I don't just mean trip down a few stairs. I actually fell, face first, from the top landing to the bottom. Didn't feel a thing though! Until the next morning. While we were waiting for a cab for I helped the girls from Apt 2 break in through their fire escape.

Eventually we get to Lindsay's. You might think that after falling down the stairs me or someone else would decide that I should not be drinking anymore. Nope. I had a couple of beers after that.

Fast forward (but not much) to 10:50pm and I'm passing out on Lindsay on the couch. "Heather, do you want to go lie down?" "I can't! It'll be midnight in 10 minutes!" "No.... an hour an ten minutes." "Oh, okay. Good idea!" So I go lie down in Lindsay's bed. Someone brings in bucket. I want to say, for the record, that if the bucket hadn't been there, I would've gotten off my ass and gone to the bathroom. It was just convinient that I could still be comfy while throwing up! Especially since I was doing it for the next two hours, and missed the countdown. Anyway, major props to Lindsay for taking care of me and being awesome.

At about 12:30 I'd stopped throwing up, so I got up and rejoined the party. Mostly just to see when we were planning on going home. I take one look at Steph, across the room, and say "She's next." Which she was. Less than half an hour later, she was throwing up in the bathroom. We're such great company! There was this guy there who'd been hitting on her all night, and as soon as I came out and she disappeared, he switched to me. I actually told this guy that I'd spent the last two hours throwing up and he continued to hit on me. Classy.

Eventually, I go home with Kaitlyn, LMc and Jess, and LMac stays back with Steph and they take a cab later. We all pass out.

Yesterday, I spent almost the entire day feeling like I was going to die. I could barely move. Poor Steph I think was worse.

Of course, we'd already made plans to go to 90s night at Barrymore's yesterday night, so after mopping around all day I finally showered and got ready to go out. Though our numbers had dwindled greatly since the original plan (from 9 to 4) we still had a really good time. I, obviously, wasn't drinking, so I drove Kaitlyn's car even though none of us ended up drinking anyway. We got there a little early, sat down and hung out. Until Ain't Nothing but Mammals by the Bloodhound Gang came on and, having flashbacks to grade 6 dances, I made everyone get up and dance with me. The DJ then proceeded to play mostly 90s hip hop... which I clearly don't know, instead of the greats like BSB, Hanson, early Britney... So we got a little bored during that.

BUT. A constant redeeming factor of the night was the stage dancers. There's a part at Barrymore's that's a stage when they have a band, but you can dance up there during dance nights. And apparently, this guy with a silver jacket comes every 90s night and gets really into it, dancing around on the stage. So, Silver Jacket got up and did his thing, and I found it oh so amusing. But then it got better!! On to the stage steps a guy in a suit and cowboy hat. He also starts dancing around, totally into it, but with a lot more country in his step. Now Silver Jacket and Cowboy are having a bit of a dance off.

THEN a guy wearing a hawaian shirt and sunglasses (inside at night) comes on stage. And all three of them are competing for stage space and dancing so different, near each other but in no way with each other, barey acknowledging each other, just playing it up for the crowd. This continued all night and was hilariously awesome to watch.

Another highlight of the evening: The music finally got better and they played MmmBop, Cottoneye Joe AND SAVAGE GARDEN! For anyone who doesn't know, Savage Garden is my first love. They played I Want You, which was AWESOME and I'd never gotten to dance to it in public before! It made my life! And yes, I do know all the words.

So anyway, we went to Kettleman's for bagels on the way home and generally had some good sober dancing fun! Which is an interesting contrast to my adventures the night before.

And that is the story of how I rang in 2009, and why I might never finish Canadian History.